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I 




































\\ V V H I 


ifif.yiw vS'wh.H? 


BEVOTED’TO THOSE 
IHTERESTED I.IW 
THE PVBLIC U/TnOS 

— or*' 

THE VniTED STATES 


$i:50 PER YEAR 
m ADVARCE. 


Vol. i. No. 1. 

Spokane, Wash., August 20, 1901. 

Single Copies, 10 Cunts 



g 





CONTENTS. 


Current Topics— 

A New Method. i 

Another Indian Reservation to 

be Opened. i 

Olympic Forest Reservation ... i 


New Opportunities— 

Spokane Falls, Wash. 2 

Walla Walla, Wash. 2 


Editorial— 

The Home Maker is the Hope 

of the Nation. 4 

Spokane Indian Reservation .... 4 
Congratulations. 4 


Mining— 


Cedar Canyon Camp. 

Pierce City, Idaho. 

Millions Behind Legal Bars.. 


Land Laws and Decisions— 

The Act of March 1, 1901. 5 

Second Homestead Law. 5 

Scab Land Cannot be Bought 
Under the Timber and Stone 
Act. 6 


Miscellany— 

We Want to Know. 6 

Answers to Correspondents .... 7 

Personal. 7 

Land Offices and Officers of the 
United States. 8 


















































ADVERTISEMENTS. 


JOSEPH HUDSON SHORT, 

Attorney at Law 
and 

United States Commissioner, 


VICKSBURG, 


MISSISSIPPI. 


ROLLIN J. REEVES, 


United States Commissioner, 


WILBUR, 


WASHINGTON. 


ALFRED THOMPSON, 
Attorney at Law, Notary Public, 
U. S. Court Commissioner, 

Real Estate, Loans, Abstracts, 


519 MAIN ST., 


OLYMPIA, WASH. 


SIDNEY MOOR HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

In and for District of Washington. 


HOQUIAM, 


WASHINGTON. 


H. G. LAKE, B. S., B. S. D., L. L. D., 

Attorney and Counsellor at Law, 
U. S. Commissioner, Notary Public. 

Land Scrip of all kinds. 

School Land selections made. 


JOSEPH, 


OREGON. 


DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. 
District of Washington. 
Office of 

A. R. SWANSON, 
United States Commissioner, 


WILSON CREEK, 


WASHINGTON. 


FRED H, SCOTT, 

U. S. Commissioner, Notary Public. 


Abstracts of Land Entries. Land Entries 
and Final Proofs. Prompt and reliable 
service at moderate prices. 


MADDUX, 


MONTANA. 


T. D. HASTIE, 

Attorney at Law, 

U. S. Court Commissioner. 


Homestead Filings and Final Proofs. 
OROFINO, IDAHO. 


ORIN H. WOODS, 
Surveyor and U. S. Commissioner. 

Land Filings and Final Proofs. 
Ditches Surveyed and Recorded. 


BASIN, 


WYOMING. 


JNO. JAS. GRAVES, 


Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, 
Conveyancer, Real Estate, 


MEYERS FALLS, 


WASHINGTON. 


FRED’K J. HOAGLAND, 


Attorney at Law, 


ODESSA, 


WASHINGTON. 


C. H HOLDEN, 


Attorney at Law. 


Choice timber lands in large or small 
tracts. Timber land cruised and estimates 
given. Government lands located. Fruit 
lands. Ranch land. Grazing land for sale. 
Climate unsurpassed; no cold, no heat, 
lands, ranch land, grazing land for sale, 
no cyclones. Correspondence solicited. 


FLORENCE, OREGON. 


J. W. MARSHALL, 
Attorney at Law. 


Practice in all the Courts. 


207 Auditorium Blk., SPOKANE, WASH. 

> V j 

> >> > 


HOMES FOR THE HOMESEEKERS 

LANDS FOR THE LANDLESS. 

We have a large list of the choicest 
farming lands in the Big Bend and 
throughout the Inland Empire. Improved 
farms $15 to $20 per acre. This is the sec¬ 
tion that produces 30,000,000 bushels of 
wheat per annum. Fine fruit; no failures; 
ideal climate. Money placed for non-resi¬ 
dents on first mortgages on first class 
land. Trantum & Schoonover, Odessa,Wn. 


J. B. ZIEGLER, 

Notary Public, Real Estate and Fire 
Insurance Agent. 


IMPROVED FARM LANDS, RAW 
LANDS AND TOWN PROPER¬ 
TIES FOR SALE. 


Prices and Terms will be Furnished 
Promptly. 


ODESSA, 


Office on First Avenue. 

WASHINGTON. 


This Space is Reserved for 

H. B. WILSON & COMPANY, 

Attorney and Solicitors of American 
and Foreign Patents. 


OFFICES: LeDroit Building, Cor. 8th and F 
Sts. N. W. Opp. U. S. Patent Office. 


WASHINGTON, 


D.C. 


Free Homesteads. 


There are over 100 good quarter sections with 
in short distance of the Great Northern Railroad 
that are subject to homastead entry, the same 
kind of land that produced 40 bushels of wheat 
to the acre this year. We have an accurate 
knowledge of these vacant tracts and will locate 
desirable parties on them at very reasonable 
rates. Call on 


H. E. STONE, 

With O. W. Stone Undertaking Co. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON 


See our Clubbing Offer 
on Eighth Page. 



















































PUBLIC LAND. 


i 


CURRENT TOPICS- 


A NEW METHOD. 

Congress has adopted a new plan for opening In¬ 
dian reservations. The first experiment was tried 
last month when the Kiowa-Comanche and Apache 
reservations were thrown open to settlement. 

The new plan consisted in setting apart sixteen 
days (June io to 26) for any who wished to file on 
land on either of these reservations to register their 
names and personal description and also show evi¬ 
dence of their qualifications to enter ‘public land. 
167,006 applicants were registered, but there were 
only claims for thirteen thousand persons. The 
names thus registered were placed in wheels and 
drawn by chance. The name so drawn was numbered 
and the number represented the applicants turn to 
file, or in other words gave him the choice 
of land in the district according to his number. The 
lands were divided into the El Reno and Lawton dis¬ 
tricts and simultaneous drawings were held in each 
dictrict, until the 13,000 claims were exhausted. 

The drawing was begun July 29, when there were 
one thousand names drawn from the wheels. The 
first names drawn from the ElReno district were 
Stephen A. Holcomb, of Paul’s Valley, I. T., and the 
first from the Lawton district was James R. Wood. 
Weatherford, O. T. 

Miss Mattie H. Beals, of Wichita, Kansas was the 
first ladies’ name to appear and she drew the second 
number from the Lawton district. This will give 
those drawing the first numbers the choice of lands 
adjoining the townsites in the ElReno and Lawton 
districts and which are estimated to be worth at least 
$25,000. The three towns are Aradarko, Lawton 
and Hobart. 

The lands were thrown open to entry August 6th, 
and the entries were made according to number. The 
purpose of this new method was to do away with the 
old time rush for the land and the attendant litigation 
which always follows such openings. 

It seems doubtful if either of these two objections 
have been overcome in this case, for there were over 
thirteen persons to each claim. And it seems that in 
the matter of litigation that a great many homeless 
Indians have taken advantage of the old law. to 
“squat” upon this reservation and upon lands which 
have been selected by those who drew numbers that 
entitled them to an entry of lands. There seems to 
be no method of preventing the hearing of these in¬ 
dividual claims, as their rights are based upon settle¬ 
ment, and if the Indian is allowed to be heard there is 


no telling when the litigation will end. The Wood’s 
claim adjoining the Lawton townsite has been jump¬ 
ed by two hundred squatters, and so far four contest 
have been filed against it. ; ^ . 

ANOTHER INDIAN RESERVATION TO BE 
OPENED. 

Commissioner of the General Land Office Binger 
Hermann has ordered Surveyor Gerieral Kingsbury 
of the State of Washington to advertise for bids 
for the survey of the Quinalt Indian reservation. 
This land is almost entirely within Chehalis county, 
although Jefferson comes in for a small corner. It 
is estimated that there will be approximately 225,- 
000 acres subject to entry under the settlement laws,, 
that will make fine agricultural land. Of the Indians 
on this reservation who have not severed their tribal 
relations (including females and children), there 
probably remains about two hundred, each of whom 
will receive from the government an allotment of 
eighty acres. This will leave over two hundred 
thousand acres for the white man. This land is not 
subject to entry and doubtless will not be for many 
months as the Indian must first be given an oppor¬ 
tunity to select the land for himself and family, the 
survey will be made and his allotments allowed. 
Then the usual injunction and time killing tactics of 
the few disgruntled fellows must be gone through 
before the president’s proclamation will be of any 
service to the intending setler. However, in its own 
good time the Olympia land office will have the 
pleasure of writing up about a hundred dozen entries 
for Uncle Sam’s homebuilders. 


OLYMPIC FOREST RESERVATION. 


The western half of the Olympic Forest Reserva¬ 
tion will 'soon be thrown open to entry under the 
settlement laws of the United States. President 
McKinley has issued his proclamation detailing 
many changes in the boundary of this reservation, 
and practically excludes from it nearly the entire 
western half. The increase of population and busi¬ 
ness in Chehalis, Jefferson and Clallam counties wil 1 
now receive a new impetus due to the settlement of 
the rich agricultural lands opened to settlement on 
these hitherto reserved lands. In addition to the 
lands valuable only for timber and grazing purposes 
it is estimated that there are at least one thousand 
full 160-acre claims of good agricultural land that 
is now subject to settlement, but not yet to filing, 
owing to the fact that the law requires ninety days 












2 


PUBLIC LAND. 


notice by the land division of the interior department 
before any filings can be accepted for lands which 
have jus't come into the market. 

The Northern Pacific Company’s projected rail¬ 
road from Gray’s Harbor to the Straits of Fuca will 
afford transportation facilities for this new locality, 
and the resources of the state of Washington will 
be materially increased through the drawing in of the 
lines of the Olympic reserve. 


NEW OPPORTUNITIES. 


SPOKANE FALLS, WASHINGTON. 

The chance to get government land under one or 
more of many laws is excellent in the Spokane dis¬ 
trict. 

This district includes Stevens, Ferry, Lincoln, 
Spokane, Adams and Whitman counties as far south 
as township sixteen. There still remains over three 
million acres of vacant public land from which the 
homeseekers can select any character of land known 
in the United States except that upon which hard 
wood grows in its wild state. In Stevens and Ferry 
counties there are large quantities of timber inter¬ 
spersed with good agricultural land. Along the Pen 
d’Oreille river, in township thirty : two and range 
forty, section two, township thirty-four, range forty- 
five, and township thirty-five, range farty-four, there 
are still several excellent tracts of timber—and ther^ 
are many others. 

The north half of the Colville Indian reservation 
was opened to settlement and entry by the whites 
on October io, 1900. There are still several thou¬ 
sand acres of surveyed and unsurveyed timber, agri¬ 
cultural and grazing land awaiting appropriation on 
this reservation. Rich mines of gold, silver, lead and 
copper are scattered all over this district, thus afford¬ 
ing an excellent home market for all kinds of pro¬ 
duce. Republic is in about he center of the mineral 
district, as well as of the reservation; it has a popula¬ 
tion of about two thousands souls and is the point to 
which is being built a branch of the Great Northern 
railroad. Republic is in about the center of a fifty 
mile circle, embracing a district very rich in mineral 
and agricultural resources that is practically unde¬ 
veloped. The homeseeker and miner can mark this 
for several opportunities. 

The southern half of the Spokane district in Lin¬ 
coln, Adams, Whitman and southern Spokane coun¬ 
ties, the land is more or less rolling prairie and is one 
of the best wheat producing districts in the United 
States. An instance: Many claims filed on last year 


in this locality, this year produced 25 to 40 bushels 
of wheat to the acre. There is more of this land left, 
particularly in townships 18 and 19 and ranges 31 
and 32. If you want good stock range with your 
wheat farms don’t overlook townships 17, 18, 19 and 
20 of ranges 36, 37, 38 and 39. 

Here are a few snaps which you will find on Uncle 
Sam’s bargain counter; the price is $1.25 per acre 
and they are well worth looking over before the 
crowd arrives. These tracts can be bought under 
•what is generally known as the Isolated Tract law, 
providing they contain no valuable mineral, timber 
or building stone, and the application to have them 
ordered into the market under that law is properly 
prepared and presented to William H. Ludden, Reg¬ 
ister, or S. A. Wells. Receiver, of the Spokane Falls, 
Washington, Land District. 

Lots 1, 2, 3 and 4, of Sec. 2, Twp. 24 N. of Range 
44 E., W. M., 35.54 acres. 

Lots 2, 3 and 4 of Sec. 4, 110.10 acres; lot 3, Sec. 8, 
6.40; N. E. 1-4, S. W. 1-4 of Sec. 18, 40 acres; lots. 
1 and 2, N. E. 1-4, N. W. 1-4 of See. 18, 121.11 
acres, all in township 26, N. range 42 E., W. M.; lot 
6 of Sec. 12, Twp. 25, range 44 E., W. M. 1.70. 

N. E. 1-4, S. W. 1-4, Sec. 34, Twp. 24 N. of 
Range 42 E., W. M., 40 acres. 

Lot 1, Sec. 4, 41.75 acres; S. E. 1-4, N. W. 1-4, 
Sec. 4, 40 acres; N. W. 1-4, S. E. 1-4 of Sec. 4, 40 
acres; S. E. 1-4, N. E. 1-4 of Sec. 18, 40 acres, all in 
township 25 N. of Range 41-E., W. M. 

S. E. 1-4, S. W. 1-4 of Sec. 4, 40 acres, S. E. 1-4, 
S. E. 1-4 of Sec. 12, 40 acres; S. E. 1-4, N. E. 1-4, 
Sec. 20, 40 acres, all in township 26 N. of range 41 
E., W. M. 


WALLA WALLA, WASH. 

Register John M. Hill of the Walla Walla, Wash¬ 
ington, land district in his report of July 1, 1901, 
showed his district was able to accommodate appli¬ 
cants for land to the extent of 1,130,150 acres. The 
character of the land in his district ranges all the 
way from the very good to lands that are only val¬ 
uable for grazing purposes. Some of the finest 
fruits grown in the United States have come from 
orchards in this district. There are many oppor¬ 
tunities for handling this land to an advantage, either 
by the cattle man, the sheep man, the miner, general 
farmer, orchardist, lumber man or the capitalist. The 
business of the Walla Walla office last year amounted 
to 256,730 acres and Mr. Hill says he will be glad to 
assist an equal number of the home makers in getting 
comfortably settled this year. 







PUBLIC LAND. 


3 


MINING. 


CEDAR CANYON CAMP. 

One of the most promising new districts in the 
northwest is the Cedar Canyon Camp in Stevens 
county, Washington, thirty-five miles south of Dav¬ 
enport and twenty-three miles west of Springdale. 
This has been a producing camp for over six years 
and was discovered by the Van Horn brothers and 
their associates, and to them is largely due the suc¬ 
cess which has attended the development of this 
camp. 

The ore is high grade silver and averages 250 to 
300 ounces to the ton with about 8 per cent, lead and 
nets nearly $2,000 per car. All of the ore from this 
camp is treated at Tacoma at the present time and is 
hauled to Davenport, Washington. The mining 
companies that are shipping ore are now building a 
new wagon road out to Springdale; by so doing they 
will cut off twelve miles of their haul. 

The chief producers of the camp are the Deer Trail 
No. 2, Elephant,, Legal Tender, Providence, Silver 
Seal, Silver Queen, and Victor. Elephant is now 
working sixty-five men; the Victor, which is a recent 
shipper, has thirty-five. 

Francis M. Van Horn, manager of the Silver 
Queen and Silver Seal, has just closed a contract 
with the Bradley Engineering & Machinery Com¬ 
pany of Spokane for a complete 5x6 geared hoisting 
outfit, including vertical submerged tube boiler, wire 
rope hoist buckets, pipes and fittings. This machin¬ 
ery is now on the way and will be installed at the mine 
in a few days. The work on these mines heretofore 
has nearly all been development, but they now have a 
large body of high grade continuous ore in sight and 
will be g ood, steady shippers. Their present force 
of thirty men, who have been shipping about ten cars 
per month, will doubtless m'ore than double that 
amount from this time on. 

State Senator Warren. W. Tolman is manager of 
the Cedar Canyon Consolidated Mining Co. and 
the Deer Trail Consolidated Mining Company. The 
latter company owns the Deer Trail mine, which is 
now working a force of twenty-five men and which 
has paid over $100,000 in profits to its shareholders, 
with another dividend near at hand. 


The Legal Tender, which has paid over $140,000 
in profitSj is now tied up in litigation, and all is now 
quiet at what is hoped will be a busy mine in the near 
future. 

The Providence is working six or eight men with 


the prospect of larger operations in a few weeks. 

The Moonshine is now under a $15,000 bond, with 
the prospect that the forfeit money will not be lost 
by the party bonding the claim. 

There are many new claims being opened up, lots 
of prospecting being done, and the future of Cedar 
Canyon Camp as a steady producer and dividend 
payer is already assured. 


PIERCE CITY, IDAHO. 

J. L, Dunn of Pierce has bought an interest in the 
Wild Rose mine recently discovered by John Gaffney 
and has placed prospecting machinery on the mine. 
Mr. Dunn is fortunate in securing an interest in this 
mine, as it promises to be one of the richest free-mill¬ 
ing gold propositions in the northwest. Mr. Dunn 
has held interests in the Pierce district for the past 
ten years and has been true to the camp through good 
report and bad and is deserving of the success which 
seems now to be safely within his grasp. Mr. Gaff¬ 
ney, who discovered this property, is an old-timer 
also and has stood the brunt of many hardships in 
keeping Pierce on the working line. The energy 
and careful business management of these gentlemen 
will make the Wild Rose a handsome dividend payer. 


MILLIONS BEHIND LEGAL BARS. 

The Spokane Indian Reservation lies in the south¬ 
western Corner of Stevens County, Washington, and 
is extremely rich in mineral resources. This reserva¬ 
tion contains approximately 200,000 acres of land and 
is occupied by a small number of Indians. Many 
fine copper, lead, silver and gold prospects have been 
discovered on this reservation. 

Miners and prospectors while passing over this 
reservation, in going to and from the rich mineral 
deposits (which lie directly north) in the Colville 
Reservation and Stevens County, have discovered 
many very rich prospects, but the white man is not 
allowed to mine or prospect this land and nothing 
is being done with it except by those who make clan¬ 
destine visits for the purpose of getting away with 
what mineral they can, while the vigilant eye of In¬ 
dian Agent, Major Anderson, is directed toward 
some other part of his large territory. 

There are several mines in Stevens County produc¬ 
ing large quantities of mineral that were not extend¬ 
ed to their full fifteen hundred feet along" the lead, 
simply because the reservation line cut them off. 
This mineral belt is easy of access, and mining ma¬ 
chinery can be placed upon it with very little ex¬ 
pense. 











4 


PUBLIC LAND. 


PUBLIC LAND. 


A Weekly Paper Devoted to the Public Land Interests 
of the United States. 


WALTON & GOODS-ELL, .Publishers 

LEO WALTON. Editor. 

Offices 124-125 Auditorium Bldg., Spokane, Wash. 

Subscription Rates..$1.50 per year in Advance. 

Single Copies 10 Cents. 

ADVERTISING IJATES ON APPLICATION. 
Copyrighted 1901 by Walton & Goodsell. 


THE HOME MAKER IS THE HOPE OF THE 
NATION. 

The publishers present “Public Land” to the cit¬ 
izens of the United States with the hope that it may 
'be made the instrument for bringing the homeless 
citizen to that place provided for him by a generous 
Government; where he can build for himself and 
family a shelter that will protect him and them, not 
alone from the elements of nature, but also from the 
greed of those who> by trickery and force, are daily 
striving to obtain all of the benefits of his labor. 

There are many millions of acres of vacant public 
land in the United States that will make excellent 
homes. There are also many thousands of earnest 
and intelligent citizens who> are desirous of obtaining 
a home and who are willing to join the strength and 
intelligence which nature has bestowed upon them 
to the land which the Government is willing to give 
them. It is to such of our readers that we expect to 
pay the greatest consideration, and no trouble or ex¬ 
pense will be spared to bring to their notice any fact 
which will assist them in getting a home. 

In addition to the opportunities afforded the citi¬ 
zen under the homestead law, there are over a dozen 
other laws by the use of which title can be secured to 
different classes of vacant public land, these will all 
receive proper and timely notice. 

If an apology were considered necessary for bring¬ 
ing this publication into existence, we would answer 
that there are untold millions of wealth held in inac¬ 
tivity at the present time wanting only the informa¬ 
tion which we propose to collect, and through the me¬ 
dium of this modest journal, present to those desir¬ 
ing it. 

We propose to deal only with facts, and to that end 
invite the criticism, or correction of any person who 
has knowledge of any error that may inadvertantly 


appear in this journal. We are especially desirous of 
continuing in the good will of our friends, the public 
land officers of the United States, and request them 
to make liberal use of these columns in any manner 
■ which may seem proper to them. 

In conclusion we wish you to make us happy by 
uniting with us in promoting the welfare of our na¬ 
tion by bringing together the three forces that make 
nations: Manhood, Money and Natural Resources. 


SPOKANE INDIAN RESERVATION. 

We would most respectfully suggest to the Wash¬ 
ington representatives in Congress that the Spokane 
Indian reservation should be thrown open to mineral 
exploration at its next session, for the following 
reasons: 

First.—It will result in having the reservation 
thoroughly prospected for its mineral deposits, and 
this will mean the saving of the thousands of dollars 
that must otherwise be spent in litigation to determ¬ 
ine the character of the land as between Indian al- 
lotees and the white prospector. After the land has 
been trown open to' mineral exploration for a reas¬ 
onable time the Indian allotments could then be made 
without danger of controversies. ♦Then . after the 
Indian had been satisfied, and their allotments made, 
the white settler could be given an opportunity to ap¬ 
propriate the remaining agricultural land. 

Second.—The opening would at once throw into 
the available money metal supply of the country 
many thousands of dollars from the free milling gold 
deposits that are waiting only for this order, 

Third.—It will directly require hundreds of men 
to prospect the land 1 ' and Ito handle the output of ore 
from this district, and indirectly will require the la¬ 
bor of thousands of men to care for the business 
naturally resulting from the opening of this reserva¬ 
tion to mineral exploration. 


Public Land extends congratulations to the fortun¬ 
ate ones who drew prizes in the Oklahoma drawings, 
and the right hand of fellowship to the great ma¬ 
jority who did not. There is more than a thousand 
opportunities for each of you to get a homestead in 
the United States where you, will not be subjected 
to the uncertainty of a game of chance, and which 
you may freely examine and enter at your leisure. 
We tell you of a few of these opportunities in this 
issue and if we do not bring out the facts of the 
particular locality in which you are interested as soon 
as you wish to know about them, do not hesitate 
to let us hear from you. 





















PUBLIC LAND. 


5 


LAND LAWS AND DECISIONS. 


“An act providing that entrymen under the home¬ 
stead laws, who have served in the United States 
army, navy or marine corps during the Spanish war 
or the Philippine insurrection, shall have certain ser¬ 
vice deducted from the time required to perfct title 
under homestead laws, and for other purposes. 

“Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre¬ 
sentatives of the United States of America in Con¬ 
gress assembled , That sections twenty-three hundred 
and four and twenty-three hundred and five of the 
Revised Statutes be, and the same are hereby, amend¬ 
ed to read as folows: 

“ ‘Sec. 2304. Every private soldier and officer 
who has served in the army of the United States 
during the recent rebellion for ninety days, and who 
was honorably discharged and has remained loyal 
to the government, including the troops mustered 
into the service of the United States by virtue of the 
third section of an act approved February thirteenth, 
eighteen hundred and sixty-two, and every seaman, 
marine and officer who has served in the navy of 
the United States or in the marine corps during the 
rebellion for ninety days, and who was honorably 
discharged and has remained loyal to the govern¬ 
ment, and every private soldier and officer who has 
served in the army of the. United States during the 
Spanish war, or who has served, is serving, or shall 
have served in the said army during the suppression 
of the insurrection in the Philippines for ninety days, 
and who 1 was or shall be honorably discharged; and 
every seaman, marine and officer who has served in 
the navy of the United States or in the marine corps 
during the Spanish war, or who has served, is serv¬ 
ing, or shall have served in the said forces during 
the suppression of the insurrection in the Philippines 
for ninety days, and who was or shall be honorably 
discharged, shall, on compliance with the provisions 
of this chapter, as hereinafter modified, be entitled 
to enter upon and receive patents for a quantity of 
public lands not exceeding one hundred. and sixty 
acres, or one quarter section, to be taken -in compact 
form, according to legal subdivisions, including the 
alternate reserved sections of public lands along the 
line of any railroad or other public work not other¬ 
wise reserved or appropriated, and other lands sub¬ 
ject to entry under the homestead laws of the United 
States; but such homestead settler shall be allowed 
six months after locating his homestead and filing 
his declaratory statement within which to make his 
entry and commence his settlement and improvement. 

“ ‘Sec. 2305. The time which the homestead set¬ 


tler has served in the army, navy or marine corps 
shall be deducted from the time heretofore required 
to perfect title, or if discharged on account of wounds 
received or disability incurred in the line of duty, 
then the term of enlistment shall be deducted from 
the time heretofore required to perfect title, without 
reference to the length of time he may have served; 
but no patent shall issue to any homestead settler 
who has not resided upon, improved and cultivated 
his homestead for a period of at least one year after 
he shall have commenced his improvements;’ pro¬ 
vided, That in every case in which a settler on the 
public land of the United States under the homestead 
laws died while actually engaged in the army, navy 
or marine corps of the United States as private sol¬ 
dier, officer, seaman, or marine, during the war with 
Spain or the Philippine insurrection, his widow, if 
unmarried, or in case of her death or marriage, then 
his minor orphan children or his or their legal rep¬ 
resentatives, may proceed forthwith to make final 
proof upon the land SO' held by the deceased soldier 
and settler, and that the death of such soldier while 
so engaged in the service of the United States shall, 
in the administration of the homestead laws, be con¬ 
strued to be equivalent to a performance of all re¬ 
quirements as to residence and cultivation for the full 
period of five years, and shall entitle his widow, if 
unmarried, or in case of her death or marriage, then 
his minor orphan children or his or their legal rep¬ 
resentatives, to make final proof upon and receive 
government patent for said land; and that upon proof 
produced to the officers of the proper local land of¬ 
fice by the widow, if unmarried, or in case of her 
death or marriage, then his minor orphan children 
or his or 1 their legal representatives, that the appli¬ 
cant for patent is the widow, if unmarried, or in 
case of her death or marriage, his orphan children 
or his or their legal representatives, and that such 
soldier, sailor or marine died while in the service 
of the United States as hereinbefore described, the 
patent for such land shall issue. 

“Approved March 1, 1901.” 


SECOND HOMESTEAD LAW. 


Act of June 5, 1900: 

“Sec. 2. That any person who has heretofore 
made entry under the homestead laws and commuted 
same under provisions of section twenty-three hun¬ 
dred and one of the Revised Statutes of the United 
States and the amendments thereto shall be entitled 
to the benefits of the hometsead laws, as though such 
former entry had not been made, except that com- 











6 


PUBLIC LAND 


mutation under the provisions of section twenty- 
three hundred and one of the Revised Statutes shall 
not be allowed of an entry made under this section 
of this act. 

“Sec. 3: That any person who prior to- the pas¬ 
sage of this act has made entry under the homestead 
laws, but from any cause has lost or forfeited the 
same shall be entitled to the benefits of the home¬ 
stead laws as though such former entray had not 
been made; provided, That persons who purchased 
land under and in accordance with the terms of an 
act entitled ‘An act to provide for the sale of lands 
patented to certain members of the Flathead band 
of Indians in the Territory of Montana, and for 
other purposes,’ approved March second, eighteen 
hundred and eighty-nine, shall not be held to have 
impaired or exhausted their homestead rights by or 
or on account of any such purchase. 

SCAB LAND CANNOT BE BOUGHT UNDER 
THE STONE AND TIMBER ACT. 

The following decision was recently rendered by 
Register William H. Ludden and Receiver S. A. 
Wells of the Spokane Falls, Washingaon land dist¬ 
rict and very clearly outlines the practice of that office 
with reference to the purchase of Scab Land under 
the Timber and Stone Law. (Act of June 3, 1878, 
20 Stat. 89.) 

UNITED STATES LAND OFFICE. 

Spokane Falls, Wash., Aug. 9 , 1901 . 

Protest Against Timber Land Proof. T. L. Application No. 

281 , for Lot 6 , Sec. 6 , Twp. 2 h, 

N. R. 33 , E. W. M. 

Robert H. Hankel, Protestant, vs. Charles G. Gerlach, Pro- 
t6St©6. 

DECISION OF REGISTER AND RECEIVER. 

Timber Land Application No. 281 was filed in this office 
■on May 14 th, 1901 , by Charles G. Gerlach for lot 6, Sec. 6, 
Twp.' 24 , N. R. 33 , E. W. M., containing 80 acres, and his fi¬ 
nal proof was set for August 5 th, 1901 , and duly advertised 
in the Wilbur Register. 

On May 31 , 1901 , Robert G. Hankie made Hd. Entry No. 
13,279 for lots 6 and 11, same section, township and "range. 

On August 5 th. 1901 , Charles G. Gerlach appeared at t his 
office with witnesses and offered Ms proof upon his timber 
land application and at that time Robert Hankie appeared 
with witnesses and protested against the allowance of the 
proof on the grounds that the land was more valuable for 
agricultural purposes than for the stone thereon. 

The proof of Charles G. Gerlach was taken, then the testi¬ 
mony of Robert G. Hankie, the protestant and his witnesses 
were taken. 

After considering all the testimony submitted in the case 
we find that the tract of land, to-wit, lot 6, Sec. 6, Twp. 24 , 
N. R. 33 E. W. M., is land that is covered with rock, com¬ 
monly called scab land in that locality. That it is of but 


little value for farming or agricultural purposes but the 
testimony shows that the rock upon this tract of land is of 
no value, that it cannot be quarried out and sold for any 
price, and that all the value the stone and rock would have 
would be for whatever local use it migtht be put to by the 
owner of the land, such as building foundation's of houses 
and cellar walls and structures of that nature. That it has 
no market value whatever. 

The testimony further shows that the tract of land invol¬ 
ved has been used for years by the people living in that vi¬ 
cinity for pasturage purposes; that the timber land appli¬ 
cant, Charles G. Gerlach, has pastured some of his own stock 
upon said tract of land, said stock pasturing there together 
with the stock of neighbors living around the tract. That 
whatever Value the said tract of land has is for pasturage 
purposes. 

We are therefore of the opinion that said land is more val¬ 
uable for agricultural purposes than for the stone thereon 
and that the application to purchase the same under the 
Act of June 3 , 1878 , as amended by Charles G. Gerlach, 
should be rejected, and is h ereby rejected and the home¬ 
stead entry of Robert Hankel for said lots 6 and 11 , Sec. 6, 
Twp. 24 , N. R. 33 E. W. M., shall be allowed to remain sub¬ 
ject to the future compliance with the homestead law of 
said entryman. 

'Charles G. Gerlach is allowed 30 days within which to 
appeal from this decision. 

WILLIAM H. LUDDEN. Register. 

S. A. WELLS. Receiver. 


MISCELLANY. 


WE WANT TO KNOW. 

Under this head -the publishers will ask a num¬ 
ber of questions each week, and invite answers to 
them by any of our readers who may be interested 
in the development of their districts. We wish it 
distinctly understood that the answers must be com¬ 
posed of facts, wholly freed from all fiction, and 
based upon the personal knowledge of the person 
answering the question. As an evidence of good 
faith always give full name and postoffice, but not 
for publication. 

1. Where is there a large tract of government 
land susceptible of irrigation but upon which noth¬ 
ing has yet been d'one; give full particulars? 

2. Where is there a settlement of twenty-five 
Dutch families or over on the public land? Give 
names and postoffice address. 

3. Where is there a sparsely settled district in 
which there is one or more good vacant homestead 
claims that can be entered by a man having large 
family of children of school age? Give full par¬ 
ticulars, state inducements that will be offered and 
the nationality desired. 

4. What townships do you know of that have 
been surveyed but for which the plats have not yet 










PUBLIC LAND. 


7 


been filed? State the general character of land in 
each township. 

5 - What case do you know of where the entry- 
man has abandoned his homestead or timber culture 
entry and is not now attempting to comply with 
the law ? Give full name of entryman, the exact 
numbers of the land and the facts connected with 
such abandonment. 

One year’s subscription will be added to the credit 
of any subscriber who furnishes us absolutely cor¬ 
rect answers to any of the above questions. 


ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 


Under this head complete answers.will be given 
to subscribers’ questions concerning the public land 
of the United States, Name and address of each 
subscriber must be given with letter asking the 
question. 

J. H., Wash.—I settled on my land about fifteen 
years ago, intending to enter under the pre-emption 
law. The land has now been surveyed and the plats 
filed; can I now make entry of'that land under the 
preemption law ? Ans. Yes. The pre-emption, law 
was repealed March 3, 1891, but your settlement 
prior to its repeal, and continuous residence thereon 
to the present time saved the land for you under 
that law. 

F. H., Wash.-—How long must I live upon my 
homestead before I can pay out on it for cash, and 
how much must I pay per acre? Ans. You must 
live upon it fourteen months immediately prior to 
proof and if it is within a railroad grant you must 
pay $2.50 per acre, but if it is outside of the rail¬ 
road grant you must pay $1.25 per acre. 

C. H. A., Wash.—Must the land in a timber and 
stone entry join? Ans. It must. 

J. H. S., Michigan—If I settle and live upon a 
piece of surveyed government land how long can 
I hold it before I need to file. Ans. You can settle 
upon and hold a piece of surveyed government land 
by actual residence for ninety days, but if someone 
should file upon it you would have to contest his 
entry and prove your prior settlement and residence 
before you would*be permitted to file. It is always 
best to file as soon as possible. 

F. S., Idaho—Can I relinquish my homestead to 
another person who wishes to buy it. Ans. You 
can relinquish your homestead to the United States 
so another person could file but you could not re¬ 
linquish to another person. 

A. P. F., Wash.—How much work must I do 
upon my mining claim before I can get 9 - patent 


to it? Ans. You must do at least five hundred dol¬ 
lars’ worth. 

J. G.; Wash.—I settled upon! a piece of land be¬ 
fore it was surveyed; it has since been surveyed 
and I find the land I have settled upon is section 16, 
which is school land. Can I hold it. Ans. Yes. 


PERSONAL. 


One of the most popular land officers of the north¬ 
west is James M. Rhoads, receiver of the land office 
at Miles City, Montana. He was appointed to that 
office December 27, 1897, when but thirty-two years 
of age. Register Samuel Gordon was appointed the 
same day and together they have conducted the busi¬ 
ness of an immense district in. which there is still 
over ten million acres of unappropriated public land, 
valuable for grazing and farming. There was over 
30,000 acres of forest reserve and other land scrips 
located in this district during last year by the cattle 
and sheep men in order to> hold the range against the 
syndicate herd owners. Miss Maud Carson is the 
official stenographer and was appointed to that im¬ 
portant office June 1, 1901. The powers that be are 
determined that there shall be no 1 change in the per¬ 
sonnel of the Miles City office. 

Register James Whitehead of the Broken Bow. 
Nebraska, office lias applied for a thirty days’ leave 
of absence. 

Register Frank M. Swazey of the Redding, Cali¬ 
fornia land district reports that large quantities of 
timber land is now being taken in his district by 
the location of forest reserve and state lieu scrip. 

J. G. Ramsay, formerly receiver of the United 
States land office at Miles City, Montana, is in Spo¬ 
kane looking up a business location. Mr. Ramsay 
is an old newspaper man. 

Miss Bertha Bell, Contest Clerk in the United States 
Land Office at Spokane Falls, Washington, has re¬ 
cently returned from an extended visit through the 
east. She visited thirteen states and four provinces, 
but spent most of the time at her old home on Prince 
Edward’s Island, the Buffalo 1 Exposition and To¬ 
ronto. 

Harvey J. Brown, Chief Clerk of the United 
States Land Office at Spokane Falls, Washington, 
is now enjoying his annual vacation with his wife 
and friends on the head waters of the St Joe river, 
in the state of Idaho. Mr. Brown has been Chief 
Clerk for seven years and during that long service 
has made for himself many friends. 












8 


PUBLIC LAND 


Land Offices and Officers of the United States. 


E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior Department, Washington, D. C. 
Binger Hermann, Commissioner General Land Office,' Washington, D. C. 


Alabama— 

Huntsville. 

Montgomery. 

Alaska— 

Rampart. 

Sitka. 

St. Michael. 

Arizona— 

Prescott. 

Tucson. 

Arkansas— 

Camden. 

Dardanelle. 

Harrison. 

Little Rock. 

California— 

Eureka. 

Independence. 

Los Angeles. 

Marysville. 

Redding. 

Sacraemnto. 

San Francisco ... 

Stockton. 

Susanville. 

Visalia. 

Colorado— 

Akron. 

Del Norte. 

Denver. 

Durango. 

Gunnison. 

Glenwood Springs 

Hugo. 

Leadville. 

Lamar. 

Montrose. 

Pueblo. 

Sterling. 

Florida— 

Gainesville. 

Idaho— 

Blackfoot. 

Boise. 

Coeur d’Alene — 

Hailey. 

Lewiston. 

Iowa— 

Des Moines. 

Kansas— 

Colby. 

Dodge City. 

Topeka.. 

Wakeeny. 

Louisiana— 

Natchitoches. 

New Orleans. 

Michigan— 

Marquette. 

Minnesota— 

Crookston. 

Duluth. 

Marshall. 

St. Cloud. 

Mississippi— 

Jackson. 

Missouri— 

Boonville. 

Ironton. 

Springfield. 

Montana— 


REGISTER. 

John A. Steele. 

Robert Barker. 

Daniel B. McCann_ 

John W. Dudley. 

Franklin Moses. 

Fredrick A. Tritle, Jr.. 
Milton R. Moore. 

Charles T. Duke. 

Joseph H. Battenfleld.. 
John I. Worthington... 
Harry H. Myers. 

Henry A. Olesten. 

Stafford W. Austin... 
Angus J. Crookshank. 

Frank W. Johnson_ 

Frank M. Swasey. 

Thomas Fraser. 

Aaron B. Hunt. 

John D. Maxey. 

Thomas S. Roseberry. 
Geo. W. Stewart. 

Peter Campbell. 

James H. Baxter. 

Charles D. Ford. 

Predrick C. Perkins... 

Melvin A. Deering. 

John F. Squire. 

Lon E. Foote. 

Wat T. Beall. 

Willia mA. Merrill. 

James A. Layton. 

John R. Gordon. 

David C. Fleming. 

Walter G. Robinson... 

Lorenzo R. Thomas... 

James King. 

David H. Budlong — 

Neal J. Sharp. 

John B. West. 

Thornton S. Howard.. 

Kleber E. Wilcockson. 

Thomas A. Scates. 

George W. Fisher. 

Isaac T. Purcell. 

J. Ernest Breda.. 

Walter L. Cohen. 

Thomas Scadden. 

Sylvester Peterson.... 

William E. Culkin- 

Cyrus P. Shepard. 

Myron D. Taylor. 

James Hill. 

William H. Martin_ 

George Steel. 

Martin V. Gideon. 


RECEIVER. 
HersChel V. Cashin. 
John C. Leftwich. 

Wm. R. Edwards. 
Albert J. Apperson. 
Albert E. Rose. 

John C. Martin. 

John H. Bauman. 

Edward A. Shicker. 
John G. Chitwood. 
Felix S. Baker. 

John B. Bush. 

James F. Thompson. 
Frank E. Densmore. 
Arthur W. Kinney. 
Henry Malloch. 

Lloyd L. Carter. 
William A. Newcum 
Sargent S. Mortin. 
George A. McKenzie. 
Alfred H. Taylor, 
Othello Scribner. 

George W. Warner. 
Peter F. Barclay. 

I Benjamin K Kimberly 
Daniel L. Sheets. 

Miss Martha C. Brown 
James W. Ross. 

John P. Dickinson. 
Fred Butler. 

C. Frost Liggett. 

John E. Pelton. 

John J. Lambert. 
Charles B. Timberlake 

Henry S. Chubb. 

George B. Rogers. 
Edward E. Garrett. 
Charles D. Warner. 
Wm. A. Hodgman. 
Charles H. Garby. 

Stephen J. Loughran. 

Cyrus Anderson. 

Lewis .1. Pettijohn. 
Rudolph B. Welch. 
Frank W. Kingsbury. 

Charles J.- Greene. 
Charles P. Johnston. 

John Jones. 

August F. George. 

Jay M. Smith. 
Christopher F. Case. 
Alva Eastman. 

George E. Matthews. 

Herman Schmidt. 

C. Sanford Russell. 
George A. Ramsey. 


Bozeman. 

Helena.. 

Kalispell. 

Lewistown. 

Miles! City..,..,.. 

Missoula.. 

Nebraska— 

Alliance. 

Broken Bow. 

Lincoln. 

McCook... 

North Platte.... 

O’Neill. 

Sidney. 

Valentine. 

Nevada— 

Carson City. 

New Mexico— 

Clayton. 

Las Cruces. 

Roswell. 

Santa Fe. 

North Dakota- 

Bismarck. 

Devil’s Lake. 

Fargo. 

Grand Fonjs__ 

Minot.. 

Oklahoma— 

Alva. 

*E1 Reno. 

Enid. 

Guthrie. 

Kingfisher. 

*Lawton. 

Mangum. 

Oklahoma. 

Perry. 

Woodward. 

Oregon— 

Burns. 

La Grande. 

Lakeview. 

Oregon City.. 

Roseburg. 

The Dalles. 

South Dakota— 

Aberdeen... 

Chariiberlain. 

Huron. 

Mitchell. 

Pierre. 

Rapid City. 

Watertown. 

Utah— 

Salt Lake City.. 

Washington- 
North Yakima... 

Olympia. 

Seattle. 

Spokane. 

Vancouver. 

Walla Walla. 

Waterville. 

Wisconsin— 

Ashland. 

Eau Claire.. 

Wyoming- 

Buff alo. 

Cheyenne. 

Evanston. 

Douglas. 

Lander. 

Sundance. 


Albert L. Love_ 

George D. Greene. 

Frank H. Nash_ 

Edward Brassey... 

Samuel Gordon. 

Elmer E. Hershey. 


Fred M. Dorrington... 

James Whitehead. 

Joseph W. Johnson... 
Francis M. Rathbun., 

George E. French. 

Stephen J. Weekes... 

Robley D. Harris. 

James C. Pettijohn_ 

Oliver H. Gallup_ 


Edward W. Fox. 
Emil Solignac.... 
Howard Leland.. 
Manuel R. Otero. 


Alex. C. McGillivray.. 

Ole Serumgard. 

Charles N. Valentine. 

Ernest. H. Kent. 

Thomas E. Olsgard... 

Robert A. Cameron... 


James B. Cullison_ 

John Boles. 

Emory D. Brownlee.. 


John A. Trotter... 
Seymour S. Price. 
Alfred H. Boles... 
Frank D. Healy... 


Andrew J. Edsall. 
John Horsky. 

William C. Whipps. • 
Louis W. Eldridge. 
James M. Rhoades. 
William O. Ranft. 

William R. Akers. 
Frank H. Young. 
Thomas P. Kennard. 
Joel A. Piper. 

Frank Bacon. 

Richard H. Jenness. 
James L.McIntosh, Jr 
Albert L. Towle. 

David H. Hall. 

Albert W. Thompson. 
Henry D. Bowman. 
David L. Geyer. 
Edward F. Hobart. 

John Satterlund. 
Henry E. Baird. 
DeWitt C. Tufts. 
Christian L. Lindstrom 
Abner L. Hanscom. 

William J. French. 


David W. Eastman. 
Fredrick B. McKinley. 
Jacob C. Admire. 


George W. Hayes... 
Edward W. Bartlett... 
Eldon M. Brattain.. 
Charles B. Moores.. 
Joseph T. Bridges.., 
Jay P. Lucas. 


John S. Vetter. 

William V. Lucas. 

Charles A. Blake. 

George E. Foster. 

Albert Wheelon. 

George P. Bennett — 
Lee Stover. 


Frank D. Hobbs. 


Walter J. Reed. 

Frank G. Deckebach. 
Edward P. Tremper.. 

William H. Ludden_ 

William R. Dunbar... 

John M. Hill. 

Matthew B. Malloy_ 


August Doenitz. 

Alfred Cypreansen.... 


Prince A. Gatchel)_ 

William E. Chaplin... 

Charles Kingston. 

Albert D. Chamberlain. 

William T. Adams_ 

Alpha E. Hoyt. 

* Officers that have just been established to 
from the Kiowa and Comanche reservations. 


John A. Oliphant. 
Anton H. Classen. 

Joel R. Scott. 

John W. Miller. 

Charles Newell. 
Samuel O. Swackhamer 
Harry Bailey. 

William Galloway. 
James H. Booth. 

Otis Patterson. 

Frank A. Brown. 
Charles L. Brockway. 
John Westdahl. 
Thomas C. Burns. 
Henry E. Cutting. 
William S. Warner. 
George W. Case. 

George A. Smith. 

Miles Cannon. 

John O’B. Scobey. 
Columbus T. Tyler. 
Samuel A. Wells. 

Lynn B. Clough. 
Thomas Mosgrove. 
Lucien E. Kellog. 

Nels Auley. 

Alexander Meggett. 

Ephraim H. Smock. 
Edward A. Slack. 
Frank M. Foote. 
Merris C. Barrow. 

Mrs. Minnie Williams. 
Samuel A. Young, 
accomodate the business 


IJUtU Aff Hew Opportunities for Vou and 

I6IMU Ullvl* vour Triends. « « * « * 

For a limited time “PUBLIC LAND” will be sent to five 
different addresses when sent in by one person for five dollars. 

Each issue of “PUBLIC LAND” will contain more of value 
to the subscriber interested in public laud matters than the full 
price of the year’s subscription. Some will receive a hundred 
times more. Get your friends to subscribe now. Send all re¬ 
mittances whenever possible^by Post Office or Express Money 
Order, made payable to “PUBLIC LAND.” 

Office 124-25 Auditorium Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


OVER 100,000 ACRES QF SCRIP. 

This large scrip location was made in the Oregon 
City, Oregon, district, during the past year or so 
and embraced timber as well as agricultural lands. 
The business of this office is conducted by Register 
C. B. Moores, Receiver William Galloway, Chief 
Clerk Mina Kelly and Proof Clerk Zilepha Galloway. 




























































































































































































































DOUGLAS HOTEL, 
William Newlove, Prop., 


AMERICAN PLAN. 


$1.00 and $1.50 Per Day. 
Prompt, Neat, Clean Service. 


WILSON CREEK, 


WASHINGTON. 


WILSON CREEK LIVERY STABLE 
R. J. Armstrong, Prop. 


GOOD HORSES, GOOD RIGS, GOOD 
DRIVERS, FIRST CLASS 
SERVICE. 


WILSON CREEK 


WASHINGTON. 


















7 6 

Walton & Goodsell, Land Attorneys f 

____ I 

i 

Leave of absence from your Homestead. Applications to 3 

amend your Homstead and making of all papers pertaining to £ 

Public Lands. Contests, protests and other bearings before ^ 

any U. S. Land Office. The Commissioner of the General £ 

Land Office and the Interior Department. Mining Applica- £ 

tions. Military Bounty Land Warrants. Forest Reserve, ^ 

Soldier’s Additional, Homestead, all other Land and Scrips % 

bought and sold. We can get your tangles straightened with- £ 

out your coming to the office ? 

—=====———— 1 

$ 

Office Rooms 124-25 Auditorium Block, Phone Main 369 f 

- Spokane, Washington=== g 














m//0/7£/7M£/?/5 ££££0P£ ()££//£/y/H/O/Y. 



© 


PUBLISHED' 


WEEKLY. 


BE.VOTED TO THOSE 
INTERESTED 1'H.W 
THE PVBLIC L/\riDS 


^THE VniT.ED STATES 


$1.50 PER YEAR 
ID ADVAriCE. 


VOL. I. No. 2. 


Spokane, Wash., August 27, 1901, 


Single Copies, 10 Cents 


I CONTENTS. | 

Current Topics— 

Mining— % } 

? Fort Hall Indian Reservation . . 1 

A Great Coal Deposit. 7 I • 

The Proof of the Puddin’. 1 

Jr J j 

Plarlow, Montana. 7 

Idaho Timber Lands.. . 1 

Alaska... 3 IJ 

New Opportunities— 

Land Laws and Decisions--- j 


A Change of Policy ... 5 * 

A Rush forLand. 2 

New Rules of Practice. 5 l 

Broken Bow, Nebraska. 2 

Final Proof on School Sections... 5 

Vancouver, Washington. 2 


In Missouri .. 2 

Miscellany— 


We Want to Know.. 6 ** 


Irrigation in Idaho. 6 

S ^ 

Washington Irving. 6 ? 

| Editorial— 

Answers to Subscribers.. . 7 

f Uncle Sam’s Fighting Boys. ... 4 

Little Bristles. 7 i 

| Grow Tea at Home.4 

Land Offices and Officers of the 

j To Our Friends. 4 

United States. 8 ! 
























































ADVERTISEMENTS. 


JOSEPH HUDSON SHORT, 

Attorney at Law 
and 

United States Commissioner, 


VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI. 

ROLLIN J. REEVES, 


United States Commissioner, 


WILBUR, WASHINGTON. 

ALFRED THOMPSON, 
Attorney at Law, Notary Public, 
U. S. Court Commissioner, 

Real Estate, Loans, Abstracts, 

619 MAIN ST., OLYMPIA, WASH. 

SIDNEY MOOR HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

In and for District of Washington. 


HOQUIAM, WASHINGTON. 

H. G. LAKE, E. S., B. S. B., L. L. B., 

Attorney and Counsellor at Law, 
U. S. Commissioner, Notary Public. 

Land Scrip of all kinds. 

School Land selections made. 

JOSEPH, OREGON. 

DEPARTMENT OP JUSTICE. 
District of Washington. 

Office of 

A. R. SWANSON, 

United States Commissioner, 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 

FRED H. SCOTT, 

U. S. Commissioner, Notary Public. 

Abstracts of Land Entries. Land Entries 
and Final Proofs. Prompt and reliable 
service at moderate prices. 

MADDUX, MONTANA. 


T. D. HASTIE, 

Attorney at Law, 

U. S. Court Commissioner. 

Homestead Filings and Final Proofs. 
OROFINO, IDAHO. 

ORIN H. WOODS, 
Surveyor and U. S. Commissioner. 

Land Filings and Final Proofs. 
Ditches Surveyed and Recorded. 

BASIN, WYOMING. 

JNO. JAS. GRAVES, 

Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, 
Conveyancer, Real Estate, 

MEYERS FALLS, " WASHINGTON. 

FRED’K J. HOAGLAND, 


Attorney at Law, 


ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 

C. H- HOLBEN, 

Attorney at Law. 

Choice timber lands in large or small 
tracts. Timber land cruised and estimates 
given. Government lands located. Fruit 
lands. Ranch land. Grazing land for sale. 
Climate unsurpassed; no cold, no heat, 
lands, ranch land, grazing land for sale, 
no cyclones. Correspondence solicited. 

FLORENCE, OREGON. 

J. W. MARSHALL, 
Attorney at Law. 

Practice in all the Courts. 

207 Auditorium Blk., SPOKANE, WASH. 


HOMES FOR THE HOMESEEKERS 

LANDS FOR THE LANDLESS. 

We have a large list of the choicest 
farming lands in the Big Bend and 
throughout the Inland Empire. Improved 
farms $15 to $20 per acre. This is the sec¬ 
tion that produces 30,000,000 bushels of 
wheat per annum. Fine fruit; no failures; 
ideal climate. Money placed for non-resi¬ 
dents on first mortgages on first class 
land. Trantum & Schoonover, Odessa,Wn. 


J. B. ZIEGLER, 

Notary Public, Real Estate and Fire 
Insurance Agent. 


IMPROVED FARM LANDS, RAW 
LANDS AND TOWN PROPER¬ 
TIES FOR SALE. 


Prices and Terms will be Furnished 
Promptly. 


Office on First Avenue. 


ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 


This Space is Reserved for 

H. B. WILSON & COMPANY, 

Attorney and Solicitors of American 
and Foreign Patents. 


OFFICES: LeDroit Building, Cor. 8th and F 
Sts.'N. W. Opp. U. S. Patent Office. 


WASHINGTON, ----- D.C. 


Free Homesteads. 


There are over 100 good quarter sections with 
in short distance of the Great Northern Railroad 
that are subject to horoastead entry, the same 
kind of land that produced 40 bushels of wheat 
to the acre this year. We have an accurate 
knowledge of these vacant tracts and will locate 
desirable parties on them at very reasonable 
rates. Call on 


H. E. STONE, 

With O. W. Stone Undertaking Co. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON 







;; See our Clubbing Offer | 
on Eighth Page. 




















































PUBLIC LAND. 


i 


CURRENT TOPICS. 


FORT HALL INDIAN RESERVATION. 

391,680 acres of land reserved for the use of the 
'Shoshone and Bannock Indians in southern Idaho 
will soon be thrown open to appropriation under the 
homestead, townsite, stone and timber and mining 
laws of the United States. This body of land takes 
in about one-half of the Fort Halil Reservation which 
was created by treaty concluded at Fort Bridger July 
3, 1868, and ratified by the United States Senate and 
also by Executive order February 16, 1869. 

The city of Pocatello is located in about the center 
of the district that is to be opened. There are five 
hundred and two 1 Indians-and their friends who are 
entitled to allotments on the Fort Hall Reservation. 
Those of them who have settled upon the lands that 
are to be opened may, if they choose, transfer their 
claims within the limits of the reduced reserve. Their 
improvements will be appraised and sold to the high¬ 
est bidder and the money received from this source 
will be paid over to the Indian. If he refuses to 
change his location, an allotment will be allowed him 
for the land settled upon. The purchaser of such 
Indian’s improvements will be allowed preference 
right of entry for thirty days, to not exceed 160 acres. 

After all allotments have been made to such of the 
Indians as prefer to retain their claims beyond the 
limits of the new reservation, the lands will be class¬ 
ified by an employe of the General Land Office under 
the supervision o'f the Secretary of the Interior. 

The law provides for the following classification 
on those of lands that are susceptible of irrigation 
from the canal of the Idaho Canal Company, must 
be paid for at the rate of ten dollars per acre; all ag¬ 
ricultural lands not under this canal will cost two 
dollars and fifty cents per acre; and grazing lands 
at the rate of one dollar and twenty-five cents per 
acre; one-fifth of the total amounts must be paid at 
time of entry and the remainder on the day of final 
proof. No person is allowed to enter more than 160 
acres of this land, except those who acquire title to 
the land by the use of Soldier’s Additional homestead 
scrip, in which case there is no restriction as to'the 
quantity. The party using scrip will be required to 
pay the regular rate per acre ($10, $2.50 or $1.25 
as the case may be), in addition to the use of the 
scrip. 

The further provisions are that sections sixteen 
and thirty-six are reserved to the State of Idaho for 
public school purposes; that no land shall be sold 


under any of the townsite laws for less than ten dol¬ 
lars; that all of the land within five miles of Poca¬ 
tello shall be sold at public austion; that none of the 
land shall be sold under any of the mineral land laws 
for less than ten dollars per acre. 


THE PROOF OF THE PUDDIN’. 

The man who makes the best timber for society 
is he who carefully considers all things afforded by 
a particular locality before he decides to cast his lot 
in it. Knowing this the business men of the Inland 
Empire have undetaken to show the sojourner from 
less fortunate districts, what the land within an hund¬ 
red and fifty mile circle (and of which Spokane, 
Washington, is the center)_can produce. The In¬ 
terstate Fair and Elks’ Carnival will be held at Spo¬ 
kane for two weeks, beginning September 10th. In 
this Fair the varied products of a hundred districts 
will be fully shown and attendants will be in charge 
of the exhibits who 1 are familiar with all the condi¬ 
tions existing in any particular section represented 
at the Fair. Here is an excellent opportunity for test¬ 
ing, with small cost and much pleasure, possibilities 
of a large district extremely rich in natural resources, 
where oil, lead, gold, silver, copper, coal, timber and 
grazing and agricultural lands may be had direct 
from a generous government for but little more than 
the cost of the keeping of the records of the transac¬ 
tion. The man who is looking for a substantial suc¬ 
cess can see that in miniature at the Interstate Indus¬ 
trial Exposition and Elks’ Carnival, at Spokane. 
Washington, September 10 to 24th. 


IDAHO TIMBER LANDS. 

Magnificent tracts of timber in the State of Idaho 
are passing into the hands of the large lumber .firms 
of Wisconsin and Minnesota as fast as the surveys 
are completed. 

The State is entitled under its enabling act to 600,- 
000 acres and a large amount of this grant has al¬ 
ready been satisfied. The State by reason of its ap¬ 
plication for a survey of several unsurveyed town¬ 
ships has been given the preference right of selection 
to any, even odd unnumbered sections in the town¬ 
ships within the limits of the grant to the Northern 
Pacific Railroad Company and to any section beyond 
the railroad grant. 

The exercise of this privilege by the Idaho State 
Board of Land Commissioners is causing much un¬ 
easiness on the part of settlers and individual claim¬ 
ants in these unsurveyed townships. 










2 


PUBLIC LAND. 


NEW OPPORTUNITIES. 


A RUSH FOR LAND. 

/ 

When the railroad managers make known their 
intention to extend 'their lines, the man who is look¬ 
ing for opportunities to make money easily, loses 
no chance of getting land near the proposed line. 
During the past month there was a rumor to the 
effect that the Northern Pacific would make a cut 
off from Lind, in Adams county, to Ellensburg, in 
Kittitas county in the state of Washington, and this 
'was the signal for a rush to get land tributary, if 
not actually on the new line. As a result o-f this 
rush Register Malloy of the Waterviile district kept 
the tract books for the ranges in which township 
seventeen was located on his counter much of the 
time during the last month. Of the one hundred 
and eighty-two entries made during July, many of 
them came from this new section, where, if the ordi¬ 
nary crop conditions prevail next year, there will be 
many fields of thirty-five bushel wheat on land that 
was filed upon last month. 

There is a large body of good vacant land in the 
Moses Lake district just north of this new settlement 
and tributary h> the Great Northern railroad in town¬ 
ships 19 and 20 of Range 29 and in to'wnships 19, 20 
and 21, of Range 30 E. W. M. In these five town¬ 
ships there are approximately 30,000 acres of vacant 
fine wheat land that are waiting to feel the throb of 
the gang plow, and the tread of the live, energetic 
former. 


. BROKEN BOW, NEBRASKA. 

This district was organized in 1800, and the 
amount of business transacted during the past year 
was greatly in excess of that of anv vear since its 
organization. Register James Whitehead and Re¬ 
ceiver Frank H. Young with the assistance of Sten¬ 
ographer M. H. Hiatt have written up nearlv one 
hundred homestead entries per month in addition to 
the contest work and the hundred add one other 
things that come in the course of a months’ business. 
There are about two and one-half million acres 
of vacant land in this district, much of which would 
require irrigation to make it available for agricul¬ 
tural purposes, although there is still good farming 
land in Blaine and Thomas counties. 

VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON. 

Register W. R. Dunbar of the Vancouver, Wash¬ 
ington, land district, reports about 2,000,000 acres 


of unappropriated land in his district but half of 
this has been reserved by the government for dif¬ 
ferent purposes and is not now subject to settlement 
or entry. There is, however, about one million acres 
of vacant land that is valuable for timber and agri¬ 
cultural purposes with perhaps the largest quantity 
in Skamania county. 


IN MISSOURI. 

Missouri enjoys the distinction of being the only 
state in the union where agricultural land can be 
purchased direct from the government of the United 
States. The following interesting letter from Reg¬ 
ister. Steel gives the whole story of land business 
and opportunities in his district in a nutshell: 

Department of the Interior. 

United States Land Office. 

Ironton, Mo., July 30, 1901. 

Sir-—In reply to your inquiry of recent date we 
advise you that there are about 95,000 acres of 
vacant government land in this district open to 
homestead or cash entry at $1.25 per acre. The 
land is distributed as follows: 


County. Acres. Phelps.11,790 

Bollinger. 1,600 Perry. 420 

Butler. 790 Pulaski.4,340 

Cape Girardeau . 40 Reynolds. 8,180 

Carter. 360 Ripley. 3,830 

Crawford . . . 4,080 St. Francois .... 520 

Dent.3,820 Ste. Genevieve . . 1,560 

Howell.2,520 Shannon.5,590 

Iron.10,740 Texas . .13,360 

Madison ... ... 7,550 Washington .. . 2,540 

Oregon.6,160 Wayne.6,1 H 


This land is in the Ozark district of Missouri and 
being hilly and broken varies sb much in quality that 
a personal examination is necessary to determine 
the value of any. particular tract. 

The homestead law requires five years residence 
upon the land embraced in a homestead entry before 
final proof is made. Soldiers who served in the 
Civil war or Spanish war are allowed to deduct the 
term of service from the five years but must reside 
upon the land one year. 

No residence is required in case of cash entry. 

Be sure to have your name (with one given or 
Christian name in' full ) written plainly and spelled 
correctly and do not fail to see that land is described 
correctly by subdivision, section, township and range. 

Send money to C. Sanford Russel, receiver. 

Respectfully, GEORGE STEEL, Register. 






















PUBLIC LAND. 


3 


MINING. 


A GREAT COAL DEPOSIT. 

Perhaps the largest body of coal that has been dis¬ 
covered in the United States in the last twenty years, 
is that on the State boundary between Washington 
and Oregon. This great body of coal land is located 
in Asotin County, Washington, and Willowa Coun¬ 
ty,' Oregon, and is most easy of eccess by way of 
Asotin, the county seat of Asotin County, thence by 
way of Anatone to Hanson’s Ferry, on the Grand 
Ronde river, which is the dividing line between the 
two states at the point mentioned. 

This body of coal crops out at points very close 
together for a distance of twelve miles on either side 
of the river and there are thousands of acres that 
have been filed on under the homestead laws that now 
show fine coal prospects. There are other thousands 
of acres that have been covered by local men with 
coal land declaratory statements, and still other land 
that has not been covered at all, but which show 
, strong coal measures. 

This body of coal is lignite of fine quality, improves 
and with depth changes to bituminous. 

There are also mhny indications of natural gas and 
oil, but no prospecting has been done for either oil or 
gas. In the coal deposits the local men have run sev¬ 
eral tunnels and sunk shafts through twenty feet 
of solid coal, in fact have found so much coal that 
they did not need to do much digging to get it. 
There is no question but that the deposit is a very 
large one. 

These coal measures are fifteen miles from the 
mouth of the Grand Ronde river. This river is not 
navigable, but the Snake, into which it empties, has 
a regular line of steamboats running to the mouth 
of the river < and the matter of getting this coal to 
market would require the building of a road for fif¬ 
teen miles to connect with the boats at the mouth of 
the Grand Ronde. However, it is probable that a 
railroad will run through these coal fields in the near 
future, as they are on the route mapped out by the 
Burlington for reaching the Coast, where the best 
possible grades can be secured down the Grand Ronde 
river. The Oregon Railway and Navigation Com¬ 
pany has already run its preliminary survey 
through this coal region, and it would appear that the 
day was not far distant when snug little fortunes 
could be realized by those who may have the good 
judgment to get hold of properties in this district, 
either by purchase or by original location. Indeed 


the difference in price at which it may now be bought 
from the government over that which must be paid 
for it as soon as the railroad is completed, would 
mean ioo per cent profit, on the investment. The act 
of March 2, 1878 (Goal Land Law;) requires the 
payment of ten dollars per acre, if the land is over 
fifteen miles, and twenty dollars per acre if the land 
is fifteen miles or less from a completed railroad. 
There seems no doubt but that the Burlington System 
in extending its line to the Coast will pass down the 
Grand Ronde river, and through the center of this 
immense deposit. There is fine timber, gold and sil¬ 
ver, agricultural and grazing lands in this immediate 
vicinity and the natural resources afforded by this 
particular section could support a community of ten 
thousand souls without any connection whatever with 
the outside world. 


HARLOW, MONTANA. 

Messrs. Finch and Campbell of Spokane, Wash¬ 
ington, are owners of the Kendall mine, eighty-five 
miles from Harlow, and are now putting in a 300-ton 
cyaniding plant. The ore from this mine is pro¬ 
nounced by experts to be perfectly adapted the sy- 
aniding process and is one of a very few in the coun¬ 
try where the entire value can be extracted by a quar¬ 
ter-inch crush. . The Bradley Engineering & Ma¬ 
chinery Company of Spokane secured the order for 
this large plant. 


ALASKA. 

A Salmon River district claim produced an $820 
nugget on July 25, and the Same day $1,660 was 
washed from a hole on the same claim. 

Sam Silverman and A. E. Sprigs, of Butte, are in¬ 
terested in the development of large copper proper¬ 
ties on Prince, of Wales’ Island, to which place they 
have recently started. 

Rampart is enjoying the delicious sensation of an¬ 
other rich strike. This time on Glenn Gulch, a trib¬ 
utary of Tanana River, and 30 miles from Rampart. 
It is quoted at $1 per shovel or $4.75 for the best 
pan. 

Rampart’s output is estimated at $125,000 this 
year. Ex. Gov. John H. McGraw has the best pay¬ 
ing property in camp. 

Dawson reports a new strike on Clear Creek, that 
has caused a stampede of all the miners on the Mc- 
Questen. Nothing has yet been learned of the value 
of the dirt except that it is very rich. 








4 


PUBLIC LAND. 


PUBLIC LAND. 


A Weekly Paper Devoted to the Public Land Interests 
op the United States. 


WAL TON & GOODSELL,.. Publishers 

LEO WALTON. Editor. 

Offices 124-125 Auditorium Bldg., Spokane, Wash. 

Subscription Rates.$1.50 per year in Advance. 

Single Copies 10 Cents. 

ADVERTISING l^ATES ON APPLICATION. 
Copyrighted 1901 by Walton & Goodsell. 


UNCLE SAM’S FIGHTING BOYS. 

On April 20, 1898, the United States became (of¬ 
ficially) engaged in war with Spain; in three days 
President McKinley had issued his call for troops 
and on June 16 he had placed his signature to the 
law which required that hereafter every contest that 
was brought against a homestead settler in which the 
charge was abandonment, that it should contain the 
clause, declaring that such absence from the land on 
the part of the settler was not due to his employment 
in the army or navy of the United States. Three 
days before William McKinley took the oath of 
office for the second time as president of the United 
States, he placed his signature to the law which 
is now known as the act of March 1, 1901. This 
law extends the provisions of sections 2304, 2305 
and 2306, U. S. Revised Statutes, to those who were 
employed for ninety days or longer during the Span¬ 
ish war, or those who served or are. now serving 
the United States forces in suppressing the insurrec¬ 
tion in the Philippines for ninety days, and who was 
or shall be honorably discharged. The amendments 
referred to were passed for the benefits of the “boys 
in blue” who came to the Nation’s assistance dur¬ 
ing the war of the rebellion, and now to those who 
served in the recent war, and gives those coming un¬ 
der its provisions additional rights not enjoyed by 
the ordinary citizen. He may make his entry by an 
agent, may receive credit for the time of his enlist¬ 
ment the same as though he was residing on the land 
during that period, and if he had settled prior to 
his enlistment and 1 was killed or died while in the 
service then his wife, or if he has none, then his legal 
representatives can submit final proof at once, the 
death of such soldier being construed as a full com¬ 
pliance with the homestead law. Those soldiers of 
either war mentioned in this act who made final 
proof on a homestead prior to 1874 for a less quan¬ 


tity of land than one hundred and sixty acres can 
obtain title to enough to make up the full quarter 
section without residence, cultivation or'improve¬ 
ment. 

This right has been determined by- the United 
States Supreme Court to partake of the nature of 
property and therefore assignable. Hundreds of old 
veterans or their widows have taken advantage of 
this act and as a result the scrip known as “Soldier’s 
Additional” is today among the best on the market 
for passing title to non-mineral land without meeting 
the requirements of the homestead law as to- settle¬ 
ment and so forth. If the widow of a soldier (who 
was killed or died while in the service) makes entry 
of land under the homestead law, she may claim 
credit for the full term of his enlistment, and this 
will be construed as actual residence on the land. 

The highest institution in the United States is 
the home of its citizens and Uncle Sam in rewarding 
the valor of the boys who came to his rescue in time 
of need, feels that he can do them no greater favor 
than by making it as easy as possible for them to 
get homes. 


GROW TEA AT HOME. 

There is no reason why the people of the United 
States should not produce every ounce of tea used 
within its borders. 

■There are thousands of acres in several different 
parts of the United States where the soil and climatic 
conditions are perfectly adapted to the growth of the 
tea plant, and the only objection that is offered for 
its lack of production, is that so far no- machine has 
been invented that will handle it as sheap as it now 
done in China, Japan and Ceylon. Trust American 
inventive genius for that, but let the practical neces¬ 
sity for a machine of this kind once be established 
as a present fact and a twelfth month will not pass 
ere the genius that made the production of cotton 
a source of profit to the) Southern States will meet 
the necessity with a machine that will do the work 
with a degree of perfection from a financial and sani¬ 
tary point of view, that will astonish the natives—of 
China, Japan and Ceylon. 


TO OUR FRIENDS. 

We gratefully acknowledge the receipt of many 
kind letters and words of commendation from friends 
and members of the press in all parts of the country 
on their receipt of the announcement of our intention 
to give this journal to the public. 


























PUBLIC LAND. 


5 


LAND LAWS AND DECISIONS. 

A CHANGE OF POLICY. 

Heretofore it has been the practice of the Depart¬ 
ment to allow the location of Surveyor General’s cer¬ 
tificates only in the state of Missouri, but the follow¬ 
ing decision which has just been promulgated over 
rules the practice that has been followed since the pas¬ 
sage of the Act of March 2, 1889. This case has*just 
been reported, Vol. 30, page 616 U. S. Land Decis¬ 
ions. 

“Private Claim-Acts of June 2, 1858, and March 2, 

1889. 

Victor H. Provensal. 

The special provisions of the Act of June 2, 1858, 
relating to the. location, of surveyor general’s certi- 
cates of location upon lands subject to sale at private 
entry, are in no wise affected, by the general provis¬ 
ions of the Act of Marche, 1889, restricting the sale 
O'f public lands at private entry to the state of Miss¬ 
ouri. • 

The case of McDonough School Fund, 11 L. D., 
378, overruled.” 


NEW RULES OF PRACTICE. 

•The Interior Department has just promulgated 
the amendments to numbers 17, 44 and 91 of the 
Rules of Practice, and a new rule, number 8 j 4 , a>ll of 
which are of the utmost importance to all parties 
concerned in land practice. Rule 91 as amended will 
take effect. September 1, 1901. These rules as they 
stand under the new order are as follows : 

“Rule 17.—Notice of motions, proceedings, or¬ 
ders and decisions shall be in writing and may be 
served personally or by registered letter, mailed to 
the last address, if any, given by or on behalf of the 
party to be notified, as shown by the record, and if 
there be no such record address, then to the post- 
office nearest to the land; and in all those contest 
cases where notice of contest is given by registered 
mail under Rule 14, and the return of the registry 
receipt shows such notice to have! been received by 
the contestee, the address at which the notice was so 
received shall be considered as an address given by 
the contestee, within the meaning of this rule. 

“Rule 44.—After hearing in a contest case has 
been had and closed the register and receiver will 
in writing notify the parties in interest of the con¬ 
clusions to which they have arrived, and that thirty 
days are allowed for appeal from their decision to 
the Commissioner, the notice to be served personally 


or by registered letter, as provided in Rule 17. 

“Rule 91.—The appellee may file a written argu¬ 
ment in his behalf within thirty days from service 
O'f the argument of the appellant, where the latter 
files an argument within the time allotted by Rule 
89; otherwise, within thirty days from the expiration 
of the time so allotted to appellant.” 

“Rule 8 J 4 .-—■Transferees and encumbraneesrs of 
land, the title to which is claimed or is in process of 
acquisition under any public land law, shall upon fil¬ 
ing notice of the transfer or encumbrance in the dis¬ 
trict land office, become entitled to receive and be 
given the same notice of any contest or other proceed¬ 
ing thereafter had; affecting such land which is re¬ 
quired to be given the original claimant. Every such 
notice of a transfer or encumbrance must be forth¬ 
with noted upon the records of the district land office 
and be promptly reported tO' the General Land Office 
where like notation thereof will be made.” 


FINAL PROOF ON SCHOOL SECTIONS. 

In order to submit final proof hereafter it will be 
necessary for the claimant who settled on school sec¬ 
tions prior to survey to give the proper State or Ter¬ 
ritorial authorities notice of his intention at the time 
he files his application therefor in the local office, and 
he must furnish proper proof of such service of notice 
on the day set for taking his final proof. The follow¬ 
ing circular has just been forwarded to the one hund¬ 
red and eighteen land offices of the United States. 

FINAL PROOF-SCHOOL SECTIONS-NOTICE. 

Instructions. 

Department of the Interior, General Land Office, 

Washington, D. C., May 15, 1901. 

Registers and Receivers, United States Land Of- 
ficees. 

Sirs:—In all cases of intention to submit final 
proof on entries for lands embraced in sections that 
have been granted or reserved to the State or Terri¬ 
tory for school purposes, you will require the entry- 
man in the published notice to specifically cite the 
'State or Territory, and serve a copy of such notice, 
either personally or by registered mail, on the prop¬ 
er State or Territorial authorities, and furnish evi¬ 
dence of such service prior tO' or at the time of the 
submission of proof, as in other cases of adverse, 
claims. 

Very respectfully, 

RINGER HERMAN, Corn. 
Approved: THOMAS RYAN, Act. Sec. 






6 


PUBLIC LAND. 


MISCELLANY. 


WE WANT TO KNOW. 

Under this head the publishers Will ask a number 
of questions each week, and invite answers to them 
by any of our readers who may be interested in the 
development of their districts. We wish it distinct¬ 
ly understood that the answers must be composed of 
facts, whooly freed from all fiction, and based upon 
the personal knowledge of the person answering 
the question. As an evidence of good faith always 
give full name and'postoffice, but not for publication. 


In what district is there being developed an irriga¬ 
ting canal costing over $10,000? Give full particu¬ 
lars as to source of supply; amount of land intended 
to be covered; post of building; names and addresses 
of men at head of the enterprise; character of land 
in the district, and its location and boundary. If pos¬ 
sible state character and amount of vacant public 
land that lies under or near the proposed canal. 

In what localities has there been extensive experi¬ 
menting with the growth of the sug*ar beet? Give 
full particulars as to character of soil, amounts of pro¬ 
duct to the acre and sugar percentage; also distance 
from railroad and lime and coal supply. 


Who of your own personal knowledge has carried 
on extensive experiments in the culture of silk worms 
during the past twelve months? State fully what 
successes and failures attended the experiments; the 
adaptation of the Mulbrrry tree to the locality and 
whether the experimenter is still engaged in such cul¬ 
ture. 


Who of your own personal knowledge has carried 
on experiments with the growth of the tea plant for 
practical purposes during the past twelve months? 
'State fully, name, addresses, successes and failures 
of such persons. 

Where in the state of Washington, Oregon, Idaho 
or Montana, is there an oil- well now producing oil, 
which has been discovered and developed since Jan¬ 
uary 1st, 1900? State names and addresses of own¬ 
ers, location of well, distance from nearest railroad 
station and amount of daily production. 

One year’s subscription will be added to the credit 
of any subscriber who furnishes us absolutely cor¬ 
rect answers to any of the above questions. 


IRREGATION IN IDAHO. 

One of the most promising irrigation enterprises 
that has come to life of late is the organization of 
The Grand Teton Canal Company, with its principal 
place of business at Driggs, Idaho. The capitaliza¬ 
tion is for $150,000, and three-fourths of the stock 
was subscribed by twenty-two local men. The di¬ 
rectors for, the first year are Don C. Driggs, Ray C. 
Kimball, Ellett Seymore and Oscar Knight of 
Driggs, and Thomas R. Wilson of Alta, Wyoming, 
and M. W. Pratt and Henry Wallace of Salt Lake 
City. 

This Company will divert the water of the Teton 
river in Fremont County and will irrigate several 
thousand acres of land that is practically wothless 
at the present time, but as soon as the head gate is 
raised, will have a producing value of one hundred 
dollars per acre. The land under this canal will be 
reached by the Utah Southern R. R. 


WASHINGTON IRVING 
If it were fashionable in these progressive days 
for the ghosts of departed historians tO' walk the 
scenes occupied by their more material progenitors, 
they would truly behold the “undreamed of.” A half 
century ago, Washington Irving wrote in his “Asto¬ 
ria” of the great American desert, as a place which 
doubtless would only be the rendezvous of the cut 
throat, the highwayman and fugitive from justice. • 
This great expanse of billions of acres is every¬ 
where dotted by the settlement of the home builder, 
and instead of the caves of the blear-eyed desperado, 
we find the home of the earnest, honest and intelli¬ 
gent citizen of the United States, taking not only his 
own living from the land but also' a surplus with 
which to feed the over-crowded and down trodden of 
the east. Cities and towns have sprung up and with¬ 
in their borders may be found all the refining influ¬ 
ences that are indispensable to> a well ordered com¬ 
munity. Moral: The charm of Irving’s composi¬ 
tion should not blind the eastern reader to> the. fact 
that all historians are not born with the gift of pro¬ 
phesy. 


A number of Illinois and Idaho capitalists, with 
James H. Lewis of Seattle, filed articles of incorpor¬ 
ation of the Idaho Beet Sugar Company. The capi¬ 
tal stock of the company is. $350,000. 

Hamm-Schmitz Land Company have recently in¬ 
corporated with a capital stock of $100,000, with 
their business office at Seattle. This -company will 
handle Washington timber and agricultural land. 















PUBLIC LAND, 


7 


ANSWERS TO SUBSCRIBERS. 

Under this head complete answers will be given 
to subscribers’ questions concerning the public land 
of the United States. Name and address of each 
subscriber must be given with letter asking the 
question. 

H. B., Wash.—-How much coal land can I file up¬ 
on, and does filing my declaratory statement use my 
right ? 

A—You can file your declaratory statement upon 
160 acres, providing you have never filed before, the 
filing of your declaratory statement uses your right. 
However, if a valid reason exists for failure to make 
proof and payment under the first statement, a sec¬ 
ond will be allowed. 

B. J. H., Wash.—Q. Can I hold a homestead and 
prove up on it, and have a business in town. I will 
hire a ntan to cultivate and improve the land, and I 
can go out and stay over Sunday each week ? 

A.—You could not hold it if someone were to con¬ 
test it, and you could not make final proof upon it for 
the reason that the homestead law provides that you 
must make it your home to the exclusion of one else¬ 
where. Occasional visits to the land is not compli¬ 
ance with the homestead law. 

L. T. M., Wash.— Q. There is a 40 acre tract of 
vacant government land adjoining my farm in Wash¬ 
ington which I wish to buy. It has been open to 
homestead entry for something over three years and 
the land all around it has been taken for four or five 
years; there is no timber on it but it would make 
good pasture, and 'there are a few acres of good land 
upon it. Is there any way to buy it ? 

A.-—There are two ways in which you may buy it. 
You may file scrip upon it, but if you do consider it 
•what isknown as the Isolated Tract Law, (Sec. 245. 
U. S. Revised Statutes, as amended by the Act of 
Feb. 26, 1895.) Under this law it is sold to the high¬ 
est bidder, the lowest bid accepted being $1.25 per 
acre, at which price it usually sells. (This law will 
be fully discussed in a future issue of this paper.) 

E. S., Wash.—Q. How long a time will I have to 
prove up and make payment on my timber claim aft¬ 
er I file? 

A._You will have somewhere between 70 and 90 

days'. The law requires that it be advertised for ten 
weeks and that proof must be made within 90 days. 


LITTLE BRISTLES. 

In the Moxie district, near North Yakima, Wash¬ 
ington, there are at least 'twenty-five artesian wells 
that flow to the surface. The temperature of the 
water as it comes to the surface is 70 degrees and is 
largely used for irrigating purposes. A surface flow 
is reached at an average depth of about 1,200 feet. 
Some of these wells furnish sufficient water to irri¬ 
gate sixty and eightv acres of land. 


It is reported that John Motycka, a settler on the 
SE ^4 of Sec. 26, Twp. 21 N. of Range 32 E. W. M., 
near Odessa, Washington, sommitted suicide. Ill 
health was the cause of the deed. The heirs of the en- 
tryman will be permitted to perfect proof on this en¬ 
try by cultivation and improvement of the claim. 


Sunny Italy is experiencing a hot wave, the like 
of which it was never known. The vineyards in 
whole districts are reported entirely ruined by the si¬ 
rocco from the Libyan deserts. The temperature 
registered 43 centigrade, which is equivalent to 
109.10 degrees fahrenheit. 


It is not “bleeding Kansas,” but “Excelsior New 
York” that is now afflicted with the grasshopper 
plague and the farmers in the vicinity of Naples are 
cutting their grain before it is ripe in order to save 
it from total destruction. 


The settlers of Spokane Falls, Washington, land 
district are keeping right after Uncle Sam’s rural free 
mail delivery agent, M. de la Montanya, and he has 
iust reported favorably upon two routes each out of 
Mica and Fairfield. 


The Santa Fe railroad has come to the assistance 
of the farmers in Kansas in the drouth stricken dis¬ 
tricts by hauling corn to them at greatly reduced 
rates. This move on the part of the railroad will en¬ 
able many of the farmers to hold their stock for an¬ 
other year and save part of their shattered fortunes. 


A disastrous forest fire is raging near Kalden- 
kichen, on the Dutch-Prussian frontier. Already 
over $250,000 damage has been done and the fire is 
spreading at a very rapid rate despite the efforts of 
the burgomasters, citizens and firemen to check it. 
The train service has been suspended and it is feared 
that the extensive forests of Aix la Chapelle district 
will be reached before the fire can be controlled, 













8 


PUBLIC LAND 


Land Offices and Officers of the United States. 


E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior Department, Washington, D. C. 
Binger Hermann, Commissioner General Land Office, Washington, D. C- 


Alabama— 

Huntsville. 

Montgomery. 

Alaska— 

Rampart. 

Sitka. 

St. Michael. 

Arizona— 

Prescott. 

Tucson. 

Arkansas— 

Camden. 

Dardanelle. 

Harrison. 

Little Rock. 

California— 

Eureka. 

Independence. 

Los Angeles. 

Marysville. 

Redding. 

Sacraemnto. 

San Francisco ... 

Stockton. 

Susanville. 

Visalia. 

Colorado— 

Akron. 

Del Norte. 

Denver. 

Durango. 

Gunnison. 

Glenwood Springs 

Hugo. 

Leadville. 

Lamar. 

Montrose. 

Pueblo. 

Sterling. 

Florida— 

Gainesville. 

Idaho— 

Blackfoot. 

Boise. 

Coeur d’Alene.... 

Hailey. 

Lewiston. 

Iowa— 

Des Moines. 

Kansas— 

Colby. 

Dodge City. 

Topeka. 

Wakeeny. 

Louisiana— 

Natchitoches. 

New Orleans. 

Michigan— 

Marquette. 

Minnesota— 

Crookston. 

Duluth. 

Marshall. 

St. Cloud. 

Mississippi— 

Jackson. 

Missouri— 

Boonville. 

Ironton. 

Springfield. 

Montana— 


REGISTER. 

John A. Steele. 

Robert Barker. 

Daniel B. McCann_ 

John W. Dudley. 

Franklin Moses. 

P’redrick A. Tritle, Jr.. 
Milton R. Moore. 

Charles T. Duke. 

Joseph IT. Battenfield.. 
John I. Worthington... 
Harry H. Myers. 

Henry A. Olesten. 

Stafford W. Austin... 
Angus J. C’rookshank. 

Frank W. Johnson_ 

Frank M. Swasey. 

Thomas Fraser. 

Aaron B. Hunt. 

John D. Maxey. 

Thomas 'S. Roseberry. 
Geo. W. Stewart. 

Peter Campbell. 

Tames H. Baxter. 

Charles D. Ford. 

Fredrick C. Perkins... 

Melvin A. Deering. 

Tohn F. Squire. 

Lon E. Foote. 

Wat T. Beall. 

Willia mA. Merrill. 

James A. Layton. 

Tohn R. Gordon. 

David C. Fleming. 

Walter G. Robinson... 

Lorenzo R. Thomas... 

•Tames King. 

David H. Budlong- 

Neal J. Sharp. 

Tohn B. West. 

Thornton S. Howard.. 

Kleber E. Wilcockson. 

Thomas A. Scates. 

George W. Fisher. 

Tsaac T. Purcell. 

I. Ernest Breda. 

Walter L. Cohen. 

Thomas Scadden. 

Svlvester Peterson.... 

William E. Culkin_ 

Cvrus P. Shepard. 

Myron D. Taylor. 

James Hill. 

William H. Martin_ 

George Steel. 

Martin V. Gideon. 


RECEIVER. 
Herschel V. Cashin. 
John C. Leftwich. 

Wm. R. Edwards. 
Albert J. Apperson. 
Albert E. Rose. 

John C. Martin. 

John H. Bauman. 

Edward A. Shicker. 
John G. Chitwood. 
Felix S. Baker. 

John E. Bush. 

James F. Thompson. 
Frank E. Densmore. 
Arthur W. Kinney. 
Henry Malloch. 

Lloyd I/. Carter. 
William A. Newcum 
Sargent S. Mortin. 
George A. McKenzie. 
Alfred H. Taylor. 
Othello Scribner. 

George W. Warner. 
Peter F. Barclay. 
Benjamin K Kimberly 
Daniel L. Sheets. 

Miss Martha C. Brown 
James W. Ross. 

John P. Dickinson. 
Fred Butler. 

C. Frost Liggett. 

John E. Pelton. 

John J. Lambert. 
Charles B. Timberlake 

Henry S. Chubb. 

George B. Rogers. 
Edward E. Garrett. 
Charles D. Warner. 
Wm. A. Hodgman. 
Charles H. Garby. 

Stephen J. Loughran. 

Cyrus Anderson. 

Lewis J. Pettijnhn. 
Rudolph B. Welch. 
Frank W. Kingsbury. 

Charles J. Greene. 
Charles P. Johnston. 

John Jones. 

August F. George. 

Jay M. Smith. 
Christopher F. Case. 
Alva Eastman. 

George E. Matthews. 

Herman Schmidt. 

C. Sanford Russell. 
George A. Ramsey. 


Bozeman..... 

Helena. 

Kalispell. 

Lewistown...._ 

Miles City. 

Missoula. 

Nebraska— 

Alliance. 

Broken Bow. 

Lincoln. 

McCook. 

North Platte. 

O’Neill. 

Sidney. 

Valentine. 

Nevada— 

Carson City. 

New Mexico— 

Clayton.. 

Las Cruces. 

Roswell. 

Santa Fe. 

North Dakota— 

Bismarck. 

Devil’s Lake. 

Fargo. 

Grand Fonts. 

Minot. 

Oklahoma— 

Alva. 

*E1 Reno.. 

Enid. 

Guthrie. 

Kingfisher. 

*Lawton. 

Mangum. 

Oklahoma. 

Perry. 

Woodward. 

Oregon— 

Burns. 

La Grande. 

Lakeview. 

Oregon City. 

Roseburg. 

The Dalles.. 

South Dakota— 

Aberdeen. 

Chamberlain. 

Huron. 

Mitchell. 

Pierre. 

Rapid City. 

Watertown. 

Utah- 

Salt Lake City... 

Washington— 
North Yakima.... 

Olympia. 

Seattle. 

Spokane. 

Vancouver. 

Walla Walla. 

Waterville. 

Wisconsin— 

Ashland. 

Eau Claire. 

Wyoming- 

Buff alo... 

Cheyenne. 

Evanston. 

Douglas. 

Lander. 

Sundance. 


Albert L. Love. 

George D. Greene.. 

Frank H. Nash- 

Edward Brassey... 

Samuel Gordon. 

Elmer E. Hershey. 


Fred M. Dorrington... 

James Whitehead. 

Joseph W. Johnson... 
Francis M. Rathbun.. 
George E. French.. 

Stephen J. Weekes_ 

Robley D. Harris — 
James C. Pettijohn.. 

Oliver H. Gallup. 


Edward W. Fox. 
Emil Solignac.... 
Howard Leland.. 
Manuel R. Otero. 


Alex. C. McGillivray.. 

Ole Serumgard. 

Charles N. Valentine. 

Ernest H. Kent. 

Thomas E. Olsgard... 

Robert A. Cameron... 


James B. Cullison.. 

John Boles. 

Emory D. Brownlee.. 


John A. Trotter... 
Seymour S. Price. 
Alfred H. Boles... 
Frank D. Healy... 


George W. Hayes. 

Edward W. Bartlett.. 
Eldon M. Brattain — 
Charles B. Moores.... 

Joseph T. Bridges. 

Jay P. Lucas. 


John S. Vetter. 

William V. Lucas. 

Charles A. Blake. 

George E. Foster. 

Albert Wheelon. 

George P. Bennett — 
Lee Stover. 


Frank D. Hobbs. 


Walter J. Reed. 

Frank G. Deckebach. 
Edward P. Tremper.. 

William H. Ludden- 

William R. Dunbar... 

John M. Hill. 

Matthew B. Malloy — 


August Doenitz. 

Alfred Cypreansen.... 


Prince A. Gatchell_ 

William E. Chaplin... 

Charles Kingston. 

Albert D. Chamberlain. 

William T. Adams_ 

Alpha E. Hoyt. 

L’Offioers that have just been established to' 
from the Kiowa and Comanche reservations. 


Andrew J. Edsall. 
John Horsky. 

William C. Whipps. 
Louis W. Eldridge. 
James M. Rhoades. 
William O. Ranft. 

William R. Akers. 
H'rank H. Young. 
Thomas P. Kennard. 
Joel A. Piper. 

Frank Bacon. 

Richard H. Jenness. 
James L.McIntosh, Jr 
Albert L. Towle. 

David H. Hall. 

Albert W. Thompson. 
Henry D. Bowman. 
David L. Geyer. 
Edward F. Hobart. 

John Satterlund. 
Henry E. Baird. 
DeWitt C. Tufts. 
Christian L. Lindstrom 
Abner L. Hanscom. 

William J. French. 


David W. Eastman. 
Fredrick E. McKinley. 
Jacob C. Admire. 


John A. Oliphant. 
Anton H. Classen. 

Joel R. Scott. 

John W. Miller. 

Charles Newell. 
Samuel O. Swackhamer 
Harry Bailey. 

William Galloway. 
James H. Booth. 

Otis Patterson. 

Frank A. Brown. 
Charles L. Brockway. 
John Westdahl. 
Thomas C. Burns. 
Henry E. Cutting. 
William S. Warner. 
George W. Case. 

George A. Smith. 

Miles Cannon. 

John O’B. Scobey. 
Columbus T. Tyler. 
Samuel A. Wells. 

Lynn B. Clough. «. 
Thomas Mosgrove. 
Lucien E. Kellog. 

Nels Auley. 

Alexander Meggett. 

Ephraim H. Smock. 
Edward A. Slack. 
Frank M. Foote. 
Merris C. Barrow. 

Mrs. Minnie Williams. 
Samuel A. Young, 
accomodate the business 


Club Offer. 


Hew Opportunities for You and 
Your Triends. « * * « * 


LITTLE BRISTLES. 


For a limited time “PUBLIC LAND” will be sent to five 
different addresses when sent in by one person for five dollars. 

Each issue of “PUBLIC LAND” will contain more of value 
to the subscriber interested in public land matters than the full 
price of the year’s subscription. Some will receive a hundred 
times more. Get your friends to subscribe now. Send all re¬ 
mittances whenever possible by Post Office or Express Money 
Order, made payable to “PUBLIC LAND.” 

Office 124-25 Auditorium Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


Total crop failures are reported in the West Siber¬ 
ia and Volga provinces, and the Russians who have 
enjoyed the enormous wheat crops of the Pacific 
Northwest will be able to assist their unfortunate 
relatives who remained in the “Fatherland.” 


























































































































































































































ADVERTISEMENTS. 



Quiokly secured. OUR FEE DUE WHEN PATENT 
OBTAINED. Send model, sketch or photo, with 
description for free report as to patentability. 18-PAGE 
HAND-BOOK FR EE. Contains references and fall 
information. WRITE FOR COPY OF OUR SPECIAL 
OFFER. Itis the most liberal proposition ever made by 
a patent attorney, and EVERY INVENTOR SHOULD 
READ IT before applying for patent. Address: 

H.B.WILLSON&CO. 


PATENT LAWYERS, 

L« Droit Bldg., WASHINGTON, D. C. 



ATTEND THE 

Puget Sound Business College 

for a practical, up-to-date business course. 
Bookkeeping, penmanship, stenography 
and typewriting. Send ten cents for sam¬ 
ple dozen cards and how you can earn 
some money during spare time. Address 
D. M. KNAUP, Principal, 902 Yakima ave., 
Tacoma, Wash. 

0. W. KENNEDY, 

Livery Stables, 

Gentle Driving Horses. Good Drivers to 
show you the land you want to see. 
Everything first class. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 

DOUGLAS HOTEL, 

William Newlove, Prop., 

AMERICAN PLAN. 

$1.00 and $1.50 Per Day. 

Prompt, Neat, Clean Service. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 

WILSON CREEK LIVERY STABLE 
R. J. Armstrong, Prop. 

GOOD HORSES, GOOD RIGS, GOOD 
DRIVERS, FIRST CLASS 
SERVICE. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 

CLAIR HUNT, 

Civil Engineer 
U. S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor. 

BOSSBURG, - - WASHINGTON. 


H. S SWENSON, 

United States Commissioner, District of 
Washington. 

Proprietor andEditor THE NORTHPORT MINER 
Weekly, $lt50 per annum. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 






















| Walton & Goodsell, Land Attorneys I 

I 

I 

! 

i 


Leave of absence from your Homestead. Applications to 
amend your Homstead and making of all papers pertaining to 
Public Lands. Contests, protests and other bearings before 
any U. S. Land Office. The' Commissioner of the General 
Land Office and the Interior Department. Mining Applica¬ 
tions. Military Bounty Land Warrants. Forest Reserve, 
Soldier’s Additional, Homestead, all other Land and Scrips 
bought and sold. We can get your tangles straightened with¬ 
out your coming to the office ::::::::::::::: ; : : : 


| Office Rooms 124-25 Auditorium Block, Phone Main 369 

X '■ = Spok:an.e, Wasliirigton -- .. . 

I^WMWWWJ , « 


* 














DEVOTED TO THOSE 
INTERESTED IIW 
THE PVBLIC L/\f1DS 
^OF*' 

THE VniTED STATES 


11.50 PER YEAR 

IN ADVANCE. 


PVBLISHED 

WEEKLY. 


Spokane, Wash., Sept. 3, 1901 


Single Copies, 10 Cents 


Editorial— 

John L. Wilson Law. 

Gambling V. Legitimate Invest¬ 
ments .. . . 


Land Laws and Decisions- 


Act of March 2, 1901. 

Oil V. Lieu Selections.. 

E. R. Cleveland, et. al. vs. The 
Eureka No. 1 Gold Mining Sc 
Milling Co. 


Current Topics— 

Warrants That do Not Warrant. 2 


Miscellany— 

We Want to Know.. 

A Popular Craze... 

Farm Ponderations. 

Answers to Subscribers. 

Little Bristles. 

Land Offices and Officers of the 
United States.. 


Mining— 

Newcastle, Wyoming, Oil Fields 3 


New Opportunities— 

Can be Successfully Contested 
Spokane, Washington....... 

Montana. 








































ADVERTISEMENTS 


JOSEPH HUDSON SHOBT, 

Attorney at Law 
and 

United States Commissioner, 


VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI. 

BOLUN J. BEEVES, 


United States Commissioner, 


WILBUR, WASHINGTON. 

ALFBED THOMPSON, 
Attorney at Law, Notary Public, 
U. S. Court Commissioner, 

Beal Estate, Loans, Abstracts, 

619 MAIN ST., OLYMPIA, WASH. 

SIDNEY MOOD HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

In and for District of Washington. 


HOQUIAM, WASHINGTON. 

H. G. LAKE, B. S., B. S. D., L. L. D., 

Attorney and Counsellor at Law, 
U. S. Commissioner, Notary Public. 

Land Scrip of all kinds. 

School Land selections made. 

JOSEPH, OREGON. 

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. 
District of Washington. 

Office of 

A. B. SWANSON, 

United States Commissioner, 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 


T. D. HASTIE, 

Attorney at Law, 

U. S. Court Commissioner. 

Homestead Filings and Final Proofs. 
OROFINO, IDAHO. 

OBIN H. WOODS, 
Surveyor and U. S. Commissioner. 

Land Filings and Final Proofs. 
Ditches Surveyed and Recorded. 

BASIN, WYOMING. 

JNO. JAS. GBAVES, 

-- fr 

Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, 
Conveyancer, Beal Estate, 

MEYERS FALLS, WASHINGTON. 

FKED’K J. HOAGLAND, 


Attorney at Law, 


ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 

C. H- HOLDEN, 

Attorney at Law. 

Choice timber lands in large or small 
tracts. Timber land cruised and estimates 
given. Government lands located. Fruit 
lands. Ranch land. Grazing land for sale. 
Climate unsurpassed; no cold, no heat, 
lands, ranch land, grazing land for sale, 
no cyclones. Correspondence solicited. 

FLORENCE, OREGON. 


HOMES FOB THE HOMESEEKEBS 

LANDS FOR THE LANDLESS. 

We have a large list of the choicest 
farming lands in the Big Bend and 
throughout the Inland Empire. Improved 
farms $15 to $20 per acre. This is the sec¬ 
tion that produces 30,000,000 bushels of 
wheat per annum. Fine fruit; no failures; 
ideal climate. Money placed for non-resi¬ 
dents on first mortgages on first class 
land. Trantum & Schoonover, Odessa,Wn. 


J. B. ZIEGLER, 

Notary Public, Beal Estate and Fire 
Insurance Agent. 


IMPROVED FARM LANDS, RAW 
LANDS AND TOWN PROPER¬ 
TIES FOR SALE. 


Prices and Terms will be Furnished 
Promptly. 


Office on First Avenue. 


ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 



Quickly secured. OUR PEE DUE WHEN PATENT 
OBTAINED. Send model, sketch or photo, with 
description for free report as to patentability. 48-PAGE 
HAND-BOOK FREE. Contains references and ftill 
information. WRITE FOR COPY OF OUR SPECIAL 
OFFER. It is the most liberal proposition ever made by 
a patent attorney, and EVERY INVENTOR SHOULD 
READ IT before applying for patent. Address: 

H.B.WILLSON&CO. 

PATENT LAWYERS, 


Le Droit Bldg., WASHINGTON, D. C. 



Free Homesteads. 


There are over 100 good quarter sections with 
in short distance of the Great Northern Railroad 
that are subject to homestead entry, the same 
kind of land that produced 40 bushels of wheat 
to the acre this year. We have an accurate 
knowledge of these vacant tracts and will locate 
desirable parties on them at very reasonable 
rates. Call on 


H. E. STONE, 

With O. W. Stone Undertaking Co. 


FBED H. SCOTT, 

U. S. Commissioner, Notary Public. 

Abstracts of Land Entries. Land Entries 
and Final Proofs. Prompt and reliable 
service at moderate prices. 

MADDUX, MONTANA. 


J. W. MABSHALL, 
Attorney at Law. 

Practice in all the Courts. 

207 Auditorium Blk., SPOKANE, WASH. 


ODESSA, WASHINGTON 


g t mmattw mmm 


See our Clubbing Offer 
on Eighth Page. 


























































PUBLIC LAND. 


i 


r//£//0£/£/7M££ /J l//f£0P£ Of £//£///!fm 



Offices 124-125 Auditorium Bldg., Spokane, Wash. 


ADVERTISING RATES ON APPLICATION. 
Copyrighted 1901 by Walton & Goodsell. 


THE JOHN L. WILSON LAW. 

One of the most effective laws for th$ protection 
of the home of the settler on an surveyed land is that 
one of which, ex-Senator John L. Wilson, our fel¬ 
low townsman, was the author and to whose un¬ 
tiring- efforts, its enactment into' a law was due. It 
is familiarly known as the Northern Pacific Lieu 
Land Law, but more properly the Act of July i, 
1898. (30 Stat. 597-620.) This law has saved 

perhaps thousands of homes to the settlers in the 
states of North Dakota, Montana, Idaho and Wash¬ 
ington, as its provisions cover the grant to the 
Northern Pacific Railway, from Bismarck on the 
Missouri river in North Dakota to the limit of its 
granton thePacificcoast in theStateof Washington. 
The provisions of this law extend to all cases where 
thesettlement was made prior to Jan. i, 1898, and 
no matter when the land was or may be surveyed it 
will save the settler his home, and that too without 
litigation. The settler may under this law relin¬ 
quish his claim for the benefit of the railroad claim¬ 
ant, and file upon any other land he may find vacant 
and receive credit on the new claim for his entire 
period of residence, cultivation and improvements, 
or he may apply to have the secretary of the interior 
department request the relinquishment of the rail¬ 
road claimant. His application will be allowed after 
it has been carefully examined by the department 
and his showing found to be sufficient. This law has 
been extended by the Act of March 2, 1901, as print¬ 
ed on page five of this issue. 

GAMBLING V. LEGITIMATE INVEST¬ 
MENTS. 

Many of our sober minded citizens in these very 
progressive days have been led into the dangerous 


by ways of stock speculation, and have lost their 
savings of perhaps a life-time, and this too, when 
thousands of opportunities for investment in the de¬ 
velopment of the rich natural resources of our coun¬ 
try were lying within their reach. 

If one-fourth of the time spent in scanning the 
stock quotations of the big dailies, was spent in 
search for rich deposits of precious metals that are 
to be found in the hills of the mining states, there 
would be an era of unprecedented prosperity in this 
country that would eclipse the palmy days of “forty- 
nine.” 

If the second fourth of that time was spent in 
cruising the timber belts of the nation (where still 
may be found hundreds of thousands of acres of 
valuable unappropriated timber land that can be 
bought from the Government at two dollars and fifty 
cents per acre), the homeless of the great cities might 
be comfortably housed and placed beyond the land¬ 
lord’s monthly frown. 

If the third fourth, of that time was spent in sur¬ 
veying lines for ditches to carry water from streams 
and natural reservoirs out onto the semi-arid vacant 
public lands, these so-called deserts would be made 
to blossom and to produce an abundance. 

Then if the remaining fourth was spent in obtain¬ 
ing and acting upon information concerning the op¬ 
portunities for grazing and farming* upon what is 
now the vacant public land of the United States 
(which may be obtained either by residence or by 
the location of scrip without residence), millions 
of wealth would be added in a twelvemonth to the 
bank accounts of the tradesmen and others of mod¬ 
est incomes, many men would be saved the horrors 
of the lunatic asylum; more women and children 
would have happy homes, the farmer and producer 
would come nearer obtaining fair returns for his la¬ 
bor, legitimate investments would not be jeopardized 
by the fluctuations of prices in “watered” and “in¬ 
flated” stocks; the prices of commodities of life 
would be governed by the natural law of supply and 
demand; the laborer would be better able to obtain 
the just reward for his labor and the farmer would 
not now be paying nine cents each for grain sacks 
that could be furnished him with a fair profit at half 
that price. In other words, if the men and women 
that are engaged in legitimate enterprises, did not 
contribute of their resources in such liberal measure 
to these robbers in disguise, they would find and use 
the opportunities that are waiting at their very doors, 
and which would bring them substantial successes, 
good health, clear heads and happy lives. 























2 


PUBLIC LAND. 


CURRENT TOPICS. 


WARRANT'S THAT DO NOT WARRANT. 


Perhaps the grossest error in the public mind to¬ 
day, with reference to * public land matters is the 
idea that the Military Bounty Land Warrants, issu¬ 
ed ! to soldiers prior to the war of the rebellion, will 
pass title to unappropriated vacant public land. So 
prevalent is this idea that we have personally known 
of bankers and other shrewd business men to make 
large loans upon and pay large sums of money for 
some of these warrants, which on their face seem to 
be plain enough, and indeed suggest if not absolutely 
state that the forty, eighty and one hundred and 
twenty or one hundred and sixty acres, mentioned 
in that innocent looking warrant, can be located by 
the warrantee or his assignee any place he can find 
vacant land enough to cover the face of that war¬ 
rant. Not so. The Act of March 2, 1889, has made 
it impossible for the land department to permit the 
location of these warrants other than in the State of 
Missouri. There are other uses to which 
they may be put and which doubtless 
gives them the only real value which they 
have to-day, and that is by turning them in as pay¬ 
ment to the Government in certain land transactions 
at $1.25 per acre, less (in most cases) a fee of from 
two dollars each to the Register and Receiver of the 
land office at which they are used, for locating them: 
Thesej warrants may thus be used in the cash pay¬ 
ments under the “Desert Land,” “Timber Culture,” 
“Timber and 'Stone Laws,” and for lands sold at 
public auction. 

The chief care that the use of these warrants ne¬ 
cessitate is due to the fact that the Interior Depart¬ 
ment has prescribed certain rules for the transfer of 
these warrants from owner to' assignee, in order 
that fraud may be prevented. These rules are fre¬ 
quently violated; or at least overlooked; the chain 
of title is left incomplete and the warrant therefore 
cannot be accepted by the Land Department. 

It is' true perhaps that the majority of these war¬ 
rants are held at the present time by persons who 
either do not know their value or at least do not 
know how to use them. Some are held by parties 
who believe that Congress will pass a special law giv¬ 
ing to these warrants a value and “taking” power 
which they do not now possess. Dozens of them are 
probably hidden away among old dusty papers in 
bank vaults and other places of safety. 


It is well enough for those who are holding these 
warrants in the belief that Congress will legislate 
opportunities for their use which is not now open 
to them, if they know the chain of title to be perfect, 
but for those who do not enjoy this degree of secur¬ 
ity, it would be best to make use of them or sell them 
at once, for the reason stated that so many are de¬ 
fective in title as to be worthless in their present 
condition. Those having purchased one of these 
warrants and who are hoping for Congressional ac¬ 
tion (for which there seems to be no present pros¬ 
pect) would do well to have the chain of title exam¬ 
ined at once, as defects in assignments jare very fre¬ 
quent. Many of these defects are due to lack of cer¬ 
tificates of persons still living and who would gladly 
supply the deficiencies if asked to do so. These par¬ 
ties may die next month or next year and the war¬ 
rant would therefore become worthless, due to the 
inability of the assignee to furnish, say the certifi¬ 
cate of the officer who took the acknowledgment 
showing that 'the warrant was in the possession of 
the assignor at the time of the assignment,or, the 
omission-of any other statement required by the reg¬ 
ulations, which the department has provided for the 
transfer of these souvenirs of the nation’s day of 
peril. The veteran or his widow to whom these 
warrants are issued is now too old and decrepit to 
make himself a home on new land far removed from 
the thickly settled communities, and the purpose for 
which they are issued is defeated by the very exi¬ 
gencies of the case. The purpose of restricting their 
location to the State of Missouri was to prevent 
speculation in Government lands, but the great ma¬ 
jority of all the warrants now used pass from the 
hands of the warrantee into the hands ofother par¬ 
ties, and the old veteran cannot possibly get one- 
fourth the price lie would receive if the warrant 
did take 160 acres of land. There are very few of 
the old veterans left by whom these warrants were 
earned, and it would be a ffiost fitting honor to those 
still living, for Congress to say to them that they 
might now' enjoy all of the benefits so frankly prom¬ 
ised by the warrant itself, and that they might in 
truth be allowed to appropriate without residence, 
cultivation or improvement 160 acres of vacant land 
out of Uncle Sam’s vast domain. It would be but a 
“drop in the bucket” so far as the drain on. the Gov¬ 
ernment lands is concerned, and would mean great 
encouragement and substantial assistance for the 
aged veteran or his widow. 







PUBLIC LAND. 


3 


MINING. 


NEWCASTLE, WYOMING, OIL FIELDS. 

It seems incredible that the very largest natural 
deposits of various kinds of minerals should lay at, 
and indeed, under, the feet of men who are excitedly 
seeking for fortunes, and who blindly pass over them 
without notice. To prove this one need only cite 
the history of almost every' large developed deposit. 

In the Black Hills excitement of ’70 men rushed 
over the great oil belt of Newcastle, Wyoming, in 
search of wealth, and saw the oil exuding from the 
cretacious formation and dripping down into the 
creek in such quantities that they named the stream 
Oil Creek. But they were looking for riches to be 
taken from the earth in the form of gold, and wealth 
that came from oil was not just the thing when the 
craze was for g'old. The oil float which was lying 
around loose on the hillside, dripping with oil, was 
no temptation for them. However, “Old Man” Da¬ 
vis found a spring in section 22, township 45 north, 
range 62 west, from which he dipped up an average 
of ten gallons per day and carried it off to town, 

■ where he sold it for $1 a gallon. Some few others 
dipped up the oil from different spring's which they 
would clean out, haul it off to town and obtain about 
$20 a barrel for it. The oil obtained in this district is 
free from grit and foreign matter, and can be used 
for lubricating purposes without any refining what¬ 
ever, but with refining is one of the finest engine oils 
known. 

Experts have made a number of tests with the 
product as it came from the well, and have obtained 
the following average result: Specific gravity at 60 
degrees fahrenheit, .9157-228 Beaume; flash point, 
235 degrees fahrenheit; burning point, 334 degrees 
fahrenheit. 

The next work done in the oil fields was by a 
local company organized in 1892, who purchased 
960 acres a quarter of a mile from Newcastle, and 
who sunk a well through two oil stratas to the depth 
of 1,350. feet and cased it for 1,000. The company 
spent all of its funds by the arrival of the panic in ’93, 
and it went to pieces.before they had the casing ar¬ 
ranged so the oil could flow, but the pressure of the 
oil is so strong that it sinks down below the casing 
and forces itself up through the casing to the sur¬ 
face. 

The flow from this well is very strong and it bids 


fair to be a magnificent producer when the casing is 
shot so the oil can escape. 

Recently this property passed into' the hands of 
the North Pacific Oil & Development Company 
who have, acquired possession of 26,560 acres ad¬ 
joining this well and on a line with and including the 
oil croppings for many miles on the northwest. 

The croppings extend in well defined and un¬ 
broken lines for about sixty miles into and through 
the Belle Fourche district. * 

The formation of the district is said by geologists 
and oil experts to be an ideal on, and there is every 
indication present for this becoming one of the great¬ 
est oil producing regions of the world. 

There are thousands of acres of Government 
land in these fields, showing excellent oil prospects 
that have not yet been appropriated under any of the 
land laws, and consequently opportunities for thou¬ 
sands to become wealthy, whether they unite as stock 
holders with strong companies in the development 
of their prospects, or whether they acquire proper¬ 
ties on their individual responsibility. 

The strong oil indications and springs- run diagon¬ 
ally from township 43, range 62 west to township 53 
north, range 67. west. The strip is about six mies 
wide, with perhaps one-half of the land appropriated 
on which the oil showing is the strongest. 

The elevation is about 4,000 feet. The oil sand 
stone is about thirty feet thick. 

The North Pacific Oil & Development Com¬ 
pany and the Eagle Oil Company each have flowing 
wells. The Belle Fourche district has two fine drill¬ 
ing outfits at work, with every prospect of having a 
large flow in a short time. 

These lands are easy of access, as the Burlington 
and Missouri Railroad run through the center of the 
oil fields for nearly half their length, and then almost 
parallel with them for many miles more. 

The Santa Fe and Southern Pacific railroads 
have already changed 200 of their engines to oil 
burners, and are now in process of changing 400 
more. 

The familiar coal bunkers along the line of these 
roads will soon be supplemented by the crude oil 
tank, and improvement of the oil burner will doubt¬ 
less cause other roads to make use of oil as a fuel, 
that have been prevented from doing so owing to the 
difficulties met with in the burner, and which now 
seem to have been happily overcome. Oil as a fuel 
will be in great demand in the next five years. 






4 


PUBLIC LAND. 


NEW OPPORTUNITIES. 


CAN BE SUCCESSFULLY CONTESTED. 

We have obtained the following information from 
parties believed by us to be reliable, and would thank 
any person knowing of any error in the statement 
of the case to notify us at once. 

Waterville, Washington. 

“Some two years ago James Matheson made 
'homestead entry in Waterville land office for W 
NE y 4 , 'SE y 4) NEJ 4 and NE }4 SE 1-4 of Sec. 14, 
Twp. 30, N. Range 23, E. W. M. He never made 
any residence upon the land, or made any improve¬ 
ments, nor 'entered the service of the U. S. Burt 
Huckins began a contest, but he has failed to prose¬ 
cute it. It is a good place, road runs through it and 
a school house is on the land.” 

Also, Patrick Glynn filed on a pretty good place 
in Twp. 30, N. of Range 24, E. W. M. He never 
complied with the law in any way. 

Right in this neighborhood there are several good 
vacant homestead claims desirable for intelligent,, 
sturdy farmers. Americans preferred. No special 
inducements are offered as the country is settling 
up fast.” 

Note: This land is near the Columbia River in 
the Methow Valley and the Great Northern Railroad 
is now building through the township.— Ed. 


Spokane Falls, Washington. 

“Guy S. Tuttle made homestead entry of the NE 
34 Sec. 18, Twp. 22, N. of Range 34, E. W. M., 
but has not complied with the law for a number of 
years. A small lake fed by springs which is fine 
for fishing and duck shooting takes off a small cor¬ 
ner of the land but leaves about forty acres of bot¬ 
tom land, the remainder is grazing land. If this 
tract was deeded it would have a present market 
value of about $1,000. This land is reported as 
smuggled.” 

Note: Ed. —This land is four miles from La- 
mona and six miles from Odessa, in Lincoln county, 
on the Great Northern Railroad. In addition to 
this land the following tracts in this (Sec. 18, Twp. 
22, N. Range 34) are now vacant and subject to 
entry: NW 1-4, NW 1-4, 40 acres (and can be 
bought as an isolated tract at $1.25 per acre), and 
also SW 1-4 SW 1-4, forty acres, NE 1-4, SW 1-4 
NW 1-4 SE 1-4, 80 acres, and in the same township 
and Range, Sec. 2, 80.01 acres; S 1-2 Sec. 4, 320 
acres; Lot 2, 40.38 acres, Lot 4, 33.15 acres, Lot 7, 


34.32 acres, N 1-2 NW 1-4 N 1-2 NE 1-4 Sec. 8, 
160 acres, with good spring on land. W 1-2 W 1-2 
Sec. 10, 160 acres, SW 1-4 Sec. 20, 160 acres, creek 
runs through corner; -SE 1-4, 32 acres; N 1-2 NE 
1-4, 80 acres; N 1-2 SE 1-4, 80 acres, G. N. runs 
through land. W 1-2 SW 1-4 Sec. 34, 80 acres, 
Coal Creek and G. N. R. R. runs through land, and 
a hundred other good opportunities in the immedi¬ 
ate vicinity.) 


MONTANA. 

The receiver of the Cal'ispell, Montana, land dis¬ 
trict, under date of August 2, 1901, writes as fol¬ 
lows concerning the lands in his district: 

“This land district is in the comities of Flathead, 
Missoula and Teton. There are 91,000 acres of un¬ 
surveyed and unappropriated land in Missoula 
county within this land district and 640,500 acres 
in Teton county within this land district which is 
unsurveyed and unappropriated. The total amount 
of land within Flathead county that is surveyed and 
unappropriated is about 3,700,000 acres; 386,000 
acres of Flathead county lands are reserved and 
70,000 acres of Teton county lands are reserved. 

“The lands are chiefly adapted for grazing and 
valuable for their timber and stone. In many in¬ 
stances after the timber is removed from these lands 
they are good agricultural and fruit lands. In many 
cases the lands will be good for grazing purposes 
after timber is removed. 

“The heaviest spring locations in this district 
have been in the Tobacco plains country north and 
west of Kalispell, by reason of the land being much 
better'and the timber of a good quality. The con¬ 
struction of a railfoad north from Jennings, Mon¬ 
tana, has made some difference in the locations this 
summer, as it will, when completed, go through this 
land, making a good outlet to' the various markets 
for the products of the soil which is very good. 

“Considerable land has been filed upon by forest 
reserve lieu, but it has been in various parts of the 
county and not bunched to any considerable extent 
in any one township. 

“It is almost impossible for us to give you any 
idea as to what townships will give the better farm¬ 
ing lands, not having had the opportunity to exam¬ 
ine these lands. We would imagine that the best 
farming lands left in the county are in the northern 
part of the county, in townships 37, 36, 35 and 34, 
and in ranges 26 and 27 north. The timber lands 
left are north and west of Kalispell in many town¬ 
ships, and in the townships just mentioned.” 














PUBLIC LAND. 


5 


LAND LAWS AND DECISIONS. 


ACT OF MARCH 2nd, 1901. 

“That the provisions of the Act of July first, eighteen 
hundred and ninety-eight, appearing in thirtieth Statutes 
at Large, at pages six hundred and twenty, six hundred and 
twenty-one, and six hundred and twenty-two, providing a 
plan for the adjustment by the land department of conflict¬ 
ing claims to lands within the limits of the grant to the 
Northern (Pacific Railroad Company, are hereby extended 
and made applicable'to all instances where lands in odd- 
numbered sections within the indemnity limits of the grant 
to said company were patented to settler under the public 
land' laws in pursuance 0-1 applications presented to or pro¬ 
ceedings initiated in, the local land office at a time when 
the land was embraced in a pending indemnity selection 
made by said company in conformity with the regulations 
of the land department, which indemnity selection has not 
since been waived or abandoned.” 


OIL V. LIEU SELECTIONS. 

In view of the development of the immense oil deposits 
near Newcastle, Wyoming, and In other parts of the United 
States where there are thousands of acres of unappropriated 
government land, we print the syllabus of the recent de¬ 
cision of Acting Secretary Ryan of the Interior Depart¬ 
ment in the case of Kern Oil Company v. -Clotfelter (30 L. 
D., 583), and which can be taken as a criterion by those 
contemplating the appropriation of lands in these districts 
known to be valuable for oil, and which lays down the 
rule that the known condition of the land at the minute of 
the scrip selection, must be the determining factor in all 
controversies o| that kind. 

-Lieu Selections under Act of June 4, 1897. 

Kern Oil Company v. Clotfelter. 

Under the exchange provisions of the act of June 4, 
1897, C., the owner of lands covered by a patent from the 
United States and situated within the limits -of a public 
forest reservation, filed in the Visalia, California, local 
land office’, a relinquishment to the United States of -his 
lands in the forest reservation, accompanied by evidence 
of his full and unincumbered title thereto, and at the same 
time made selection, by apporpri-ate application in -writing, 
of -a like area of public l-ands in the Visalia Land -district, 
desired in exchange for the lands relinquished, accompany¬ 
ing the selection by an affidavit declaring the selected lands 
to be unoccupied -and non-mineral. Shortly thereafter Kern 
Company and others filed sworn and corroborated protests 
against the selection, alleging that the sele-cte-d lands, at the 
time of their selection, were -occupied by protestants un¬ 
der the placer mining Laws, and where then known to be 
valuable for their deposits of petroleum or mineral oil. The 
selection has not been -carried to patent. Held: 1. The 
land department has jurisdiction and power, either on its 
-own motion or at the instance of third parties, at any 
time before a patent is issued upon a selection made under 
-the exchange provisions of said act and after appropriate 
notice, to institute and carry on such proceedings as may 
be necessary to -enable it to"determine whether the -selected 


lands were at the time of -their selection in the condition 
and of -the character subject to selection. 

2. Lands chiefly valuable on account of the deposits of 
petroleum or mineral oil found therein are mineral in 
character and not' subject uO selection under -said act. 

3. The protests of K. Company -and others required that 
a hearing be -ordered to determine the condition and charac¬ 
ter of the lands selected. 

4. T-hp inquiry will be directed to the conditions ex¬ 
isting and known at the time when the selection was made, 
and no consideration will be given to any change subse¬ 
quently occurring or t-o any discovery or development of 
mineral thereafter made. 

5. The evidence bearing upon the character of the se¬ 
lected Lands will not be restricted to the discovery or de¬ 
velopment of mineral therein, and to their geological for¬ 
mation, but may extend to the discovery and development 
of mineral in adjacent lands, and to their geological for¬ 
mation. 

The cases of Union Oil -Company, 25 L. D., 351; Kern 
Oil Company et al. v. Clarke, 30 L. D., 550; and Gray Eagle 
Oil Company v. Clarke, 30 L. D., 570; cited -and followed.” 


E. R. CLEVELAND ET AL., 

Versus 


Protestants, 


THE EUREKA NO. 1 GOLD MINING & MILLING CO., 

Applicants for Patent. 

The -above entitled case ha§ just -been decided by Acting 
-Secretary Ryan. This oas-e was -sent up -fr-o-m the Spokane 
Falls, Washington, office, which dismissed the protests; 
on appeal to the commissioners their action was sustained; 
on further appeal to the Department, the protest was al¬ 
lowed, the entry cancelled and -the applicants for patents 
were allowed to renew their application for patent, thus 
giving protestants an opportunity of suing for their rights 
in the Superior Court. 

-Briefly, the facts were these: The-mine Company had 
performed the statutory -amount of work, -an-d applied for 
patent. February 19, notice was advertised and posted; ap¬ 
plicants made tender of cash due on -entry during late after- 
-noon of December 31, 1900, which was not accepted by local 
-offic-e, due to press of office business; entry -was completed 
January 3, 1901; January 4, 1901, Cleveland (and others 
later), filed protests alleging -a-'s a basils that -the -Company 
had faileci to do assessment work during 1900, and that he 
had relocated January 1st, 1901, under new name. Secre¬ 
tary held the company guilty of laches, in not prosecuti-ng 
its application to final entry with due diligence, and' that 
its failure to do the assessment work for 1900 laid down the 
bars for -the protestants to relocate the -claim -and come into 
the case -as protestants. 


Cheap seed usually gets so disgusted with itself 
that it seldom looks honest people in the face—after 
planting time. 


The man -who -buys- wheat on the New York or 
Chicago exchange this year probably had a poor 
crop—of horse sense. 












6 


PUBLIC LAND. 


MISCELLANY. 


v WE WANT TO KNOW. 

Under this head the publishers will ask a number 
of questions each week, and invite answers to them 
by any of our readers who may be interested in the 
development of their districts. We wish if distinct¬ 
ly understood that the answers must be composed of 
facts, wholly freed from all fiction, and based upon 
the personal knowledge of the person answering 
the question. As an evidence of good faith always 
give full name and postoffice, but not for publication. 

We want to know the name and P. O. address to 
every old soldier (or his widow) of the Rebellion, 
or of the recent Spanish or Philippine war who made 
a homestead entry for less 'than 160 acres prior to 
June 22, 1874, and who has not taken up all of the 
remaining amount since the former entry. 

We want to know the name and address of every 
person who now holds a Military Bounty Land War¬ 
rant, that does not know how or where to locate or 
sell it. State whether it is for 40, 80, 120 or 160 
acres, and if there is any known defect in its title. 

We want to know the names and addresses of the 
owner of every farm in the United States upon 
which there is a flowing artesian well. State in ad¬ 
dition to name and address the depth and cost of 
well, the amount of flow, character of water, as to 
being free from sulphur or other minerals and 
whether it is used for irrigation or Other purposes. 

Of every township in the Northwest that is now 
being or has recently been surveyed in the field, 
where there is good agricultural land that has al¬ 
ready been settled upon. State number of township 
and range, general character of land, names and ad¬ 
dresses of present settlers with the approximate 
numbers of their land, the sections containing good 
agricultural land, whether there is timber near, at 
what depth well water may be Obtained, what is the 
nearest railroad station, and the most convenient 
post-office. 

We want to know the names and addresses of five 
persons who now own cheap unincumbered land 
within the limits of any Forest Reservation in the 
United States, and wish to exchange for Govern¬ 
ment land beyond the limits of the Forest Reserva¬ 
tion. 

One year’s subscription will be added to the credit 
of any subscriber who furnishes us absolutely cor¬ 
rect answers to any of the above questions. 


A POPULAR CRAZE. 


That peculiar phase of human nature which causes 
the child to cry for something beyond its reach is one 
which “Father” Time never stamps out of the man. 
No clearer example of this fact can be found than 
that which has just been presented in the opening of 
the Kioma-Gomanche Indian Reservations. Thous¬ 
ands of people never think of taking up Government 
land until they read of fan Indian reservation that is 
about to be opened and then they are in a continual 
condition of feverish excitement until the day for 
opening arrives. They make personal sacrifices in 
financial ways, deny themselves the comforts of ordi¬ 
nary life, only to be one of perhaps a hundred thous¬ 
and other people who have also' read of the big bar¬ 
gain announcement and are on hand to take advant¬ 
age of it. 

In the recent opening, 167,000 qualified entrymen 
waited day after day for one chance out of thirteen 
to file upon a quarter section of government land. 

Many of these had 1 traveled hundreds of miles to 
register their names; some had taken the prairie 
schooner method, and still others had walked much 
of the distance. The real reason for this sacrifice on 
their part was no doubt clue to the hope that they 
might be one of the 13,000 who* would draw a capi¬ 
tal prize in the form of a claim adjoining the town- 
site. 

The thousands of those who underwent the trying 
experience of failure to obtain a claim on the Kiowa- 
Comanche Reserve, might easily have crossed the 
north fork of Red River (which is the western 
boundary of of Kiowa-Comanche Reserve) and ob¬ 
tained better claims in Greer County, Oklahoma, 
than the average of those on the reserve. As there 
were 223,322 acres of vacant public 4 and in that 
county on July 17th, 1901, that did not require the 
payments of $1.25 per acre in addition to the regular 
fees and commissions that .were collected by the 
Registers and Receivers. It is more than probable 
that there will be many of those who> drew numbers 
entitling them to enter land on the Kiowa-Coman¬ 
che Reserve who will cross the Red River into the 
Mangum Land district, and agree with Unde Sam, 
through Register John A. Oliphant and Receiver 
John A. Trotter, to faithfully comply with the home¬ 
stead laws for the period of five years in considera¬ 
tion of their being allowed 160 acres of good land in 
Greer County, Oklahoma. 






PUBLIC LAND. 


7 


ANSWER'S TO SUBSCRIBERS. 

Under this head complete answers will be given 
to subscribers’ questions concerning the public land 
of the United States. Name and address of each 
subscriber must be given with letter asking the 
question. 

L. P. B., Oklahoma.—I applied to enter 160 acres 
of land on what was formerly the Kickapoo lands 
but my application was rejected because I omitted 
the clause referring to May, 23, 1895. Now what 
has that got to 1 do with the question and can I appeal 
to the Commissioner ? 

Ans.—•Your application was probably “suspend¬ 
ed,” not rejected; the clause of “May 23, 1895” has 
much to do* with the matter. The laws throwing 
the Kickapoo lands open to settlement required the 
applicant to swear that he did not enter the reserve 
prior to the hour for opening, and if you had, you 
would “ never” be permitted to enter any of its land. 
The sensible thing to do is to insert that clause in 
your application, if it fits your case; otherwise drop 
the- matter there and take land elsewhere. There 
is plenty of it. An appeal would do no good. 


Rev. J. H., Washington.—I enlisted in the Army 
in 1864 for three years’ service, but on account of 
the war closing was discharged with my Company 
in the fall of 1865. Can I be allowed credit for the 
full term of my enlistment, on a homestead in case I 
should file. 

Ans.—You would only be entitled to credit for 
the time dating from your enlistment to discharge. 
The full term is only allowed in cases where the sol¬ 
dier was discharged on account of wounds received 
or disability incurred in active duty. 


J. H. O., California.—I am an old soldier of the 
Rebellion and made a pre-emption entry of 80 acres 
in Kansas in 1871, and have never used my home¬ 
stead right. Can I now claim the same right that 
•other old soldiers arel doing who made homesteads 
about that time for less than 160 acres? 

Ans.—We regret that you cannot, as there is no 
law known to us whereby this might be done. The 
right referred to is known as the Additional Home¬ 
stead right, given fi> soldiers of the Rebellion and by 
the Act of March 1, 1901, extended to those serving 
in the Spanish and Philippine wars, and only confers 
the right upon those who made homestead entry 
prior to June 22, 18741, * or l' ess t ^ ian I ^° acres - 


FARM PONDERATIONS. 

The woman who sharpens her butcher-knife on 
the stovepipe or crock probably has an armful or 
two of wood to carry in occasionally, that has been 
split by the sweat of her own brow—and a dull ax. 


The man who harvestsWashington wheat and eats 
Nebraska bacon may not be troubled with the gout 
when overtaken by a financial panic, but he will 
probably have no difficulty in passing Saint Peter’s 
gate by reason of his being a rich man. 


Pigs are supposed to be so constituted as not to 
require water at noon on the day the circus .comes to 
town, or to be over anxious about an early supper, 
but if they are not fat when pork is high, they are 
pronounced a profitless lot. 


The fields on which the motto of China lettuce, 
“early to rise and late to die,” are written, are seldom 
made dusty by the wagons that haul the wheat from 
them. 


The saddler’s bills for whips may be saved by 
crossing the oat field an extra time or two’ with the 
harrow, and then giving the plow team its proper 
toll. 


The hoarse voice of the young rooster suggests 
a camp-meeting dinner in the North and a new lock 
on the chicken house in the South. 


Spring rains, good plowing and careful harrowing 
bring better crops than the politician, but they are 
not so good at promises. 


The farmer who bores deep for oil on his*farm 
may have to patch his chicken coop with Pearl Oil 
cans, but probably will not find it necessary to haul 
water from his neighbor’s well. 


The man whose buggy-harness suddenly needs re¬ 
pairing just at churning time, hardly ever sweetens 
his voice by singing lullabies. 

The threshing machine that strains the winter 
snows and spring rains, soon has little stomach for 
fall'work or owner’s gains. 


The honeysuckle, woodbine and climber-rose are 
the sentinels who guard the door of repose. 
















8 


PUBLIC LAND. 


Land Offices and Officers of the United States. 


E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior Department, Washington, D. C. 
Binger Hermann, Commissioner General Land OlTice, Washington, I). C- 


Alabama— 

Huntsville. 

Montgomery. 

Alaska— 

Rampart.... 

Sitka. 

St. Michael. 

Arizona— 

Prescott. 

Tucson. 

Arkansas— 

Camden. 

Dardanelle. 

Harrison. 

Little Rock. 

California— 

Eureka. 

Independence. 

Los Angeles. 

Marysville. 

Redding. 

Sacraemnto. 

San Francisco ... 

Stockton. 

Susanville. 

Visalia. 

Colorado— 

Akron...... 

Del Norte. 

Denver. 

Durango. 

Gunnison. 

Glenwood Springs 

Hugo. 

Leadville. 

Lamar. 

Montrose. 

Pueblo. 

Sterling. 

Florida— 

Gainesville. 

Idaho— 

Blackfoot. 

Boise. 

Coeur d’Alene- 

Hailey.. 

Lewiston. 

Iowa— 

Des Moines. 

Kansas— 

Colby. 

Dodge City. 

Topeka. 

Wakeeny. 

Louisiana— 

Natchitoches. 

New Orleans. 

Michigan— 

Marquette. 

Minnesota— 

Crookston. 

Duluth. 

Marshall. 

St. Cldtid. 


REGISTER. 

John A. Steele.. 

Robert Barker. 

Daniel B. McCann_ 

John W. Dudley. 

Franklin Moses. 

Fredrick A. Tritle, Jr.. 
Milton R. Moore. 

Charles T. Duke. 

Joseph H. Battenfield.. 
John I. Worthington... 
Harry H. Myers. 

Henry A. Olesten. 

Stafford W. Austin... 
Angus J. Crookshank. 

Frank W. Johnson_ 

Frank M. Swasey. 

Thomas Fraser. 

Aaron B. Hunt. 

John D. Maxey. 

Thomas S. Roseberry. 
Geo. W. Stewart. 

Peter Campbell. 

James H. Baxter. 

Charles D. Ford. 

Fredrick C. Perkins... 

Melvin A. Deering. 

John F. Squire. 

Lon E. Foote. 

Wat T. Beall.... ; . 

Willia mA. Merrill. 

James A. Layton. 

John R. Gordon.. 

David C. Fleming. 

Walter G. Robinson... 

T/orenzo R. Thomas... 

.Tames King. 

David H. Budlong— 

Neal J. Sharp. 

John B. West. 

Thornton S. Howard.. 

Kleber E. Wilcockson. 

Thomas A. Scates. 

George. W. Fisher. 

Isaac T. Purcell. 

■T. Ernest Breda. 

Walter L. Cohen. 

Thomas Scadden. 

Sylvester Peterson.... 
William E. Culkin — 

Cyrus P. Shepard. 

Myron D. Taylor. 


Mississippi— 

Jackson. 

Missouri— 

Boonville. 

Ironton. 

Springfield. 

Montana— 


James Hill. 

William H. Martin — 

George Steel. 

Martin V. Gideon. 


RECEIVER. 
Herschel V. Cashin. 
John C. Leftwich. 

Wm. R. Edwards. 
Albert J. Apperson. 
Albert E. Rose. 

John C. Martin. 

John H. Bauman. 

Edward A. Shicker. 
John G. Chitwood. 
Felix S. Baker. 

John E. Bush. 

James F. Thompson. 
Frank E. Densmore. 
Arthur W. Kinney. 
Henry Malloch. 

Lloyd L. Carter. 
William A. Neweum 
Sargent S. Mortin. 
George A. McKenzie. 
Alfred H. Taylor. 
Othello Scribner. 

George W. Warner. 
Peter P. Barclay. 
Benjamin K Kimberly 
Daniel L. Sheets. 

Miss Martha C. Brown 
James W. Ross. 

John P. Dickinson. 
Fred Butler. 

C. Frost Liggett. 

John E. Felton. 

John J. Lambert. 
Charles B. Timberlake 

Henry S. Chubb. 

George B. Rogers. 
Edward E. Garrett. 
Charles D. Warner. 
Wm. A. Hodgman. 
Charles H. Garby. 

Stephen J. Loughran. 

Cyrus Anderson. 

Lewis J. Pettijohn. 
Rudolph B. Welch. 
Frank W. King 

Charles J. Greene. 
Charles P. Johnston. 

John Jones. 

August F. George. 

Jay M. Smith. 
Christopher F. Case. 
Alva Eastman. 

George E. Matthews. 

Herman Schmidt. 

C. Sanford Russell. 
George A. Ramsey. 


Bozeman.. 

Helena. 

Kalispell. 

Lewistown. 

Miles City. 

Missoula. 

Nebraska— 

Alliance. 

Broken Bow. 

Lincoln. 

McCook. 

North Platte. 

O’Neill. 

Sidney. 

Valentine. 

Nevada— 

Carson City. 

New Mexico— 

Clayton. 

Las Cruces. 

Roswell. 

Santa Fe. 

North Dakota— 

Bismarck. 

Devil’s Lake. 

Fargo. 

Grand Forits. 

Minot. 

Oklahoma— 

Alva. 

*E1 Reno. 

Enid. 

Guthrie. 

Kingfisher. 

*Lawton. 

Mangum. 

Oklahoma. 

Perry.. 

Woodward. 

Oregon— 

Burns. 

La Grande. 

Lakeview. 

Oregon City. 

Roseburg... 

The Dalles. 

South Dakota— 

Aberdeen. 

Chamberlain. 

Huron. 

Mitchell. 

Pierre. 

Rapid City. 

Watertown. 

Utah- 

Salt Lake City... 

Washington— 
North Yakima.... 

Olympia. 

Seattle. 

Spokane. 

Vancouver. 

Walla Walla. 

Waterville. 

Wisconsin— 

Ashland. 

Eau Claire. 

Wyoming— 

Buffalo. 

Cheyenne. 

Evanston. 

Douglas.. 

Lander. 

Sundance. 


Albert L. Love. 

George D. Greene.. 

Frank H. Nash_ 

Edward Brassey... 

Samuel Gordon. 

Elmer E. Hershey. 


Fred M. Dorrington... 

James Whitehead. 

Joseph W. Johnson — 
Francis M. Rathbun.. 

George E. French. 

Stephen J. Weekes_ 

Robley D. Harris. 

James C. Pettijohn_ 

Oliver H. Gallup. 


Edward , W. Fox. 
Emil Solignac.... 
Howard Leland.. 
Manuel R. Otero. 


Alex. C. McGillivray.. 

Ole Serumgard. 

Charles N. Valentine. 

Ernest IT. Kent. 

Thomas E. Olsgard... 

Robert A. Cameron... 


James B. Cullison — 

John Boles... 

Emory D. Brownlee.. 


John A. Trotter... 
Seymour S. Price. 
Alfred H. Boles... 
Frank D. Healy... 


George W. Hayes. 

Edward W. Bartlett.. 
Eldon M. Brattain — 
Charles B. Moores — 

Joseph T. Bridges. 

Jay P. Lucas. 


John S. Vetter. 

William V. Lucas. 

Charles A. Blake. 

George E. Foster. 

Albert Wheelon. 

George P. Bennett — 
Lee Stover. 


Prank D. Hobbs. 


Walter J. Peed. 

Frank G. Deckebach. 
Edward P. Tremper.. 

William H. Ludden_ 

William R. Dunbar... 

John M. Hill. 

Matthew B. Malloy_ 


August Doenitz. 

Alfred Cypreansen.... 


.. Prince A. Gatchell_ 

• • William E. Chaplin... 

• • Charles Kingston. 

• • AlbertD.Chamberlain. 

• •• William T. Adams_ 

.. Alpha E. Hoyt. 

* Officers that have just been established to 
from the Kiowa and Comauche reservations. 


Andrew J. Edsall. 
John Horsky. 

William C. Whipps. 
Louis W. Eldridge. 
James M. Rhoades. 
William O. Ranft. 

William R. Akers. 
Frank H. Young. 
Thomas P. Kennard. 
Joel A. Piper. 

Frank Bacon. 

Richard H. Jenness. 
James L.McIntosh, Jr 
Albert L. Towle. 

David H. Hall. 

Albert W. Thompson. 
Henry D. Bowman. 
David L. Geyer. 
Edward F. Hobart. 

John Satterlund. 
Henry E. Baird. 
DeWitt C. Tufts. 
Christian L. Lindstrom 
Abner L. Hanscom. 

William J. French. 


David W. Eastman. 
Fredrick E. McKinley. 
Jacob C. Admire. 


John A. Oliphant. 
Anton H. Classen. 

Joel R. Scott. 

John W. Miller. 

Charles Newell. 
Samuel O. Swackhamer 
Harry Bailey. 

William Galloway. 
James H. Booth. 

Otis Patterson. 

Frank A. Brown. 
Charles L. Brockway. 
John Westdahl. 
Thomas C. Burns. 
Henry E. Cutting. 
William S. Warner. 
George W. Case. 

George A. Smith. 

Miles Cannon. 

John O’B. Scobey. 
Columbus T. Tyler. 
Samuel A. Wells. 

Lynn B. Clough. 
Thomas Mosgrove. 
Lucien E. Kellog. 

Nels Auley. 

Alexander Meggett. 

Ephraim H. Smock. 
Edward A. Slack. 
Frank M. Foote. 
Merris C. Barrow. 

Mrs. Minnie Williams. 
Samuel A. Young, 
accomodate the business 


(7UtU AffAM flew Opportunities for Von and 
fulMv WBIvl* Your friends. * « « * « 

For a limited time “PUBLIC LAND” will be sent to five 
different addresses when sent in by one person for five'dollars. 

Each issue of “PUBLIC LAND” will contain more of value 
to the subscriber interested in public land matters than the full 
price of the year’s subscription. Some will receive a hundred 
times more. Get your friends to subscribe now. Send all re¬ 
mittances whenever possible by Post Office or Express Money 
Order, made payable to “PUBLIC LAND.” 

Office 124-25 Auditorium Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


LITTLE BRISTLES. 

The French transportation companies have come 
to the assistance of the American coal miner with 
special rates. This will enable the American product 
to be placed in the hands of the Swiss manufacturers 
at a cheaper price than can be met by the German 
producers. 
























































































































































































































ADVERTISEMENTS 


Thi» Space is Reserved lor 

H. B. WILSON & COMPANY, 

Attorney and Solicitors of American 
and Foreign Patents. 


OFFICES: LeDroit Building, Cor. 8th and F 
Sts. N. W. Opp. U. S. Patent Office. 


WASHINGTON, .D.C. 


INLAND PRINTING COMPANY, 

610-612 Sprague Ave. 

Print Anything. Try us with your 
next order. 

It will save you money. 


ATTEND THE 

Pnget Sound Business College 

for a practical, up-to-date business course. 
Bookkeeping, penmanship, stenography 
and typewriting. Send ten cents for sam¬ 
ple dozen cards and how you can earn 
some money during spare time. Address 
D. M. KNATJF, Principal, 902 Takima ave., 
Tacoma, Wash. 

0. W. KENNEDY, 

Livery Stables, 

Gentle Driving Horses. Good Drivers to 
show you the land you want to see. 
Everything first class. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 

DOUGLAS HOTEL, 

William Newlove, Prop., 

AMERICAN PLAN. 

$1.00 and $1.50 Per Day. 

Prompt, Neat, Clean Service. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 

WILSON CREEK LIVERY STABLE 
R. J. Armstrong, Prop. 

GOOD HORSES, GOOD RIGS, GOOD 
DRIVERS, FIRST CLASS 
SERVICE. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 

CLAIR HUNT, 

Civil Engineer 
U. S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor. 

BOSSBURG, - - WASHINGTON. 


H. S SWENSON, 

United States Commissioner, District of 
Washington. 

Proprietor and Editor THE NEWPORT MINER 
Weekly, $1.50 per annum. 

NEWPORT, WASHINGTON 

M. L. SCHERMERH0RN, 
United States Commissioner 


There’s lots of good Vacant Agricultural Land 
tributary to 

LIND, . - - WASHINGTON 




















wm W ’ w ' ♦♦ * H w ’ ♦♦ ’ ♦♦ ’ ♦♦ M ♦# ♦♦ w »* W ff w y 

Walton & Goodsell, Land Attorneys | 


Leave of absence from your Homestead. Applications to 
amend your Homstead and making of all papers pertaining to 
Public Lands. Contests, protests and other bearings before 
any U. S. Land Office. The Commissioner of the General 
Land Office and the Interior Department. Mining Applica¬ 
tions. Military Bounty Land Warrants. Forest Reserve, 
Soldier’s Additional Homestead, and all other Land Scrips 
bought and sold. We can get your tangles straightened with¬ 
out your coming to the office 


Office Rooms 124-25 Auditorium Block, Phone Main 369 ? 

— Spokane, WasHington ^ & 
















' 


■ 


'' 


LtSfi/i RY- Of 1 
CONGRESS, 

ON6 Copy RecErvEO 

SEP. IQ 1901 

COPYRIGHT ENTRY 

CLASS XXc. No 


l2£l 


££££0/f£77M££ /57//£//0££ 0££//£/Y/irm 



PVBLI5HED 

^ WEEKLY. 


9EV0TED TOTHOSE 
INTERESTED IIW 
THE PVBLIC LANDS 

THE VMITED STATES 


$ 1.50 PER YEAR 
IM ADVAHCE. 


Vol. i. No. 4. 


Spokane, Wash., Sept. 10 , 1901 , 


Single Copies, 10 Cents 





CONTENTS. 

Editorial— 


Rossland, B. C. 3 

Open the Colville Indian Reser¬ 


New Opportunities— 

vation and Make it Free. 

1 

Inland Empire. 4 

Current Topics— 


North Platte, Nebraska. 4 

Spokane Interstate Fair and Elks 


Land Laws and Decisions— 

Carnival. 

2 

Limited Rights to Purchase 



Grazing Lands... c 

Mining— 


O O 

Limited Use of Timber on For¬ 
est Reserves. 5 

Mining in Ducktown, Tenn.... 

3 


Sheridan, Wash. 

3 

Miscellany— 

Baker City, Oregon. 

3 

We Want to Know. 6 

Loomis, Wash. 

3 

The Boundry Question Settled.. 6 

Dixie, Idaho. 

Republic, Wash. 

3 

Answers to Subscribers. 7 

3 

Idaho State Lands. 7 

Okonogan, Wash. 

3 

Little Bristles. 7 

Northport, Wash. 

3 

Land Offices and Officers of the 

Slocan City, B. C. . 

3 

United States. 8 























































ADVERTISEMENTS 


JOSEPH HUDSON SHORT, 

Attorney at Law 
and 

United States Commissioner, 


VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI. 

ROLLIN J. REEVES, 


United States Commissioner, 


WILBUR, WASHINGTON. 

ALFRED THOMPSON, 
Attorney at Law, Notary Public, 
U. S. Conrt Commissioner, 

Real Estate, Loans, Abstracts, 

SIS MAIN ST., OLYMPIA, WASH. 

SIDNEY MOOR HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

In and for District of Washington. 


HOQUIAM, WASHINGTON. 

H. G. LAKE, B. S., B. S. D., L. L. D„ 

Attorney and Counsellor at Law, 
U. S. Commissioner, Notary Public. 

Land Scrip of all kinds. 

School Land selections made. 

JOSEPH, OREGON. 

DEPARTMENT OP JUSTICE. 
District of Washington. 

Office of 

A. R. SWANSON, 

United States Commissioner, 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 

FRED H. SCOTT, 

U. S. Commissioner, Notary Public. 

Abstracts of Land Entries. Land Entries 
and Final Proofs. Prompt and reliable 
service at moderate prices. 

MADDUX, MONTANA. 


T. D. HASTIE, 

Attorney at Law, 

U. S. Court Commissioner. 

Homestead Filings and Final Proofs. 
OROFINO, IDAHO. 

ORIN H. WOODS, 
Surveyor and U. S. Commissioner. 

Land Filings and Final Proofs. 
Ditches Surveyed and Recorded. 

BASIN, WYOMING. 

JNO. JAS. GRAVES, 

Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, 
Conveyancer, Real Estate, 

MEYERS FALLS, WASHINGTON. 

FRED’K J. HOAGLAND, 


Attorney at Law, 


ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 

C. H. HOLDEN, 

Attorney at Law. 

Choice timber lands in large or small 
tracts. Timber land cruised and estimates 
given. Government lands located. Fruit 
lands. Ranch land. Grazing land for sale. 
Climate unsurpassed; no cold, no heat, 
lands, ranch land, grazing land for sale, 
no cyclones. Correspondence solicited. 

FLORENCE, OREGON. 

J. W. MARSHALL, 
Attorney at Law. 

Practice In all the Courts. 

207 Auditorium Blk., SPOKANE, WASH. 


HOMES FOR THE HOMESEEKERS 

LANDS FOR THE LANDLESS. 

We have a large list of the choicest 
farming lands in the Big Bend and 
throughout the Inland Empire. Improved 
farms $15 to $20 per acre. This is the sec¬ 
tion that produces 30,000,000 bushels of 
wheat per annum. Fine fruit; no failures; 
ideal climate. Money placed for non-resi¬ 
dents on first mortgages on first class 
land. Trantum & Schoonover, Odessa, Wn. 


J. B. ZIEGLER, 

Notary Public, Real Estate and Fire 
Insurance Agent. 


IMPROVED FARM LANDS, RAW 
LANDS AND TOWN PROPER¬ 
TIES FOR SALE. 


Prices and Terms will be Furnished 
Promptly. 


Office on First Avenue. 


ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 



Quickly secured. OUR FES DUE WHEN PATENT 
OBTAINED. Send model, sketch or photo, with 
description for free report as to patentability. 48-PAGE 
HAND-BOOK FREE. Contains references and foil 
information. WRITE FOR COPT OF OUR SPECIAL 
OFFER. Itis the most liberal proposition ever made by 
a patent attorney, and EVERY INVENTOR SHOULD 
READ IT before applying for patent. Address: 

H.B.WILLSON&CO. 


PATENT LAWYERS, 

Le Droit Bldg., WASHINGTON, D. C. 



Free Homesteads. 


There are over 100 good quarter sections with 
in short distance of the Great Northern Railroad 
that are subject to homestead entry, the same 
kind of land that produced 40 bushels of wheat 
to the acre this year. We have an accurate 
knowledge of these vacant tracts and will locate 
desirable parties on them at very reasonable 
rates. Call on 


H. E. STONE, 

With O. W. Stone Undertaking Co. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON 


§ See our Clubbing Offer | 
| on Eighth Page. | 






















































PUBLIC LAND. 


m// 0 / 7 f/ 7 M£/? /J l//f'f/OP£ 0 £ £//£//£UO/y. 



Offices 124-125 Auditorium Bldg., 

Spokane, Wash. 

ADVERTISING RATES ON 

APPLICATION. 

Entered at Spokane, Wash., as Second Class Mail Matter. 

Copyrighted 1901 by Walton 

& Good sell. 


We take pleasure in bidding our friends from afar 
a most cordial welcome to the Spokane Interstate 
Fair and Elks’ Carnival, and feel assured that every 
person who visits this great entertainment and wishes 
to do so can learn of some opportunity for making 
him or herself independent by the use of some of the 
rich natural resources with which the Inland Empire 
abounds. 

The products of the soil as well as the evidences 
of timber, and mineral wealth which can be seen on 
every hand, is all sent here by residents of the land 
districts of the Inland Empire, where under the head 
of New Opportunities, we show where homes, mines 
and forests may be had by every one for the taking. 
To the capitalist, unlimited possibilities for safe in¬ 
vestment are presented in the great lines of manu¬ 
facture, commerce and in the development of the 
natural resources and public utilities. 


OPEN THE COLVILLE INDIAN RESERVA¬ 
TION AND MAKE IT FREE. 

The time is drawing near when the early settlers 
of the Colville Reservation must arrange for the 
payment of 50 cents per acre to the government for 
the lands filed upon by them. The law as it stands at 
present requires that the payment of 50 cents per acre 
must be made within two years from the date of en¬ 
try, and $1 per acre prior to final proof. This reserva¬ 
tion was opened to settlement at noon of October 
10th, 1900, but on May 17, i960, Congress passed 
what is known as the “free homestead” law, in which 
it was substantially stated that, reservations opened 
for settlement prior to that date could be entered un¬ 
der the homestead laws by the payment of the regu¬ 


lar homestead fees and commissions, without any 
payment to the government on account of the 
amounts to be paid to the Indians. 

The acts of Congress which authorized the open¬ 
ing of the Colville Reservation were passed July 1st, 
1892, and July 1st, 1898, and it was supposed by 
many of these settlers that the “free homestead” 
bill included the Colville Reservation, and many of 
them, perhaps the majority of the hundreds who 
have settled on the Colville Reservation, firmly be¬ 
lieved that they would not be required to pay the 
dollar and a half per acre, because the President’s 
proclamation opening the reservation to settlement 
had issued prior (April 27th, 1900) to the passage of 
the “free homestead” law (May 17th, 1900). 

It seems, however, that the Department will hold 
that the act of settlement must determine the mat¬ 
ter ; that there could be no legal settlement on the 
land prior to October 10th, 1900, and the settles on 
dr after that date could not claim the application of a 
law passed for the benefit of persons who had made 
settlements prior to the date of its passage (May 
17th, 1900), and must pay the dollar and fifty cents 
per acre under the law as it now stands. 

However, Congress can at its next session give 
these settlers relief from this burden, and the busi¬ 
ness men of the Inland Empire should see to it that 
the Washington delegation in the National legisla¬ 
ture are given substantial encouragement, not alone 
for their efforts toward the repeal of the $1.50 clause, 
but also for the opening to settlement of the one mil¬ 
lion acres of land on the “south half.” This vast 
area of rich agricultural, timber and grazing land 
has been thoroughly gone dver by the prospector, 
and while there has been hundreds of mineral loca¬ 
tions made, and a great many of the properties are 
producing large quantities of mineral at a handsome 
profit, the great majority of the owners of valuable 
mineral deposits are not doing much more than the 
assessment work necessary to hold them, owing to 
the lack of roads and other necessities which the 
opening of the agricultural lands to settlement would 
necessarily bring. 

The farming, grazing and timber lands are not 
only tied up on the “south half,” but the mines are 
denied the opportunities for development, and there 
is a check on the business activity of Eastern Wash¬ 
ington and the panhandle of Idaho, that would easily 
be overcome by the opening of the “south half” to 
appropriation under the general land laws., and the 
passage of a “free homestead” bill for the “north 
half.” 






























2 


PUBLIC LAND. 


A genuine old eastern fair with.all of its varied 
attractions is what the live business men of Spokane, 
Washington, have arranged for the residents of the 
Inland Empire and the visitors to its hospitable pre¬ 
cincts and for which they have provided $25,000. 

Manager Herbert Bolster has received assurance 
from a great number of the large stock breeders in 
various parts of the country that they will be on hand 
in a day or two with fine strings of blooded stock. 
Some of them have arrived already and the visitor to 
the grounds this morning may have the pleasure of 
looking at as fine horses, sheep, swine, and goats as 
can be seen anywhere in the United States. To give 
some idea of the interest taken in the fair by breeders 
of the United States, Mr. Bolster has induced par¬ 
ties as fas east as Columbus, Ohio, and west to the 
Pacific Ocean, and from British Columbia on the 
north, to California on the south, to be present with 
their stock. Portland alone furnished' a solid train 
load, in short, the large amount that has already ar¬ 
rived and that is now on the road, bids fair to make 
this the greatest exhibit of fine stock ever got to¬ 
gether in the Northwest. , 

The Royal Italian Band with fifty members has 
been secured at a cost of $5,500, and this with the 
item of purses for the races costs the management 
$1,000 per day. In addition to the thousands of 
prizes and incidental expenses necessary to the man¬ 
agement of a great enterprise of this kind. The di¬ 
rectors have determined that no expose shall be 
spared in the entertainment of the visitors and noth¬ 
ing left undone that would contribute to their happi¬ 
ness or comfort. 

The liberal purses offered and the extensive stab¬ 
ling provided (there being about one mile of stables) 
have attracted to the fair the fastest horses in the 
Pacific Northwest and when the last heat shall have 
been run over this fine track the horsemen participat¬ 
ing will have received $10,000 from the Interstate 
Fair during these dozen days. 

Thirty-one prizes will go> to the breeding horse 
division; sixty prizes to the cattle; twenty to the 
swine; eighteen to sheep, and six to the goats. 

The dairy department is given sixteen prizes and 
the horticultural nearly four hundred. Fine arts 
two 1 hundred and fifty; boys’ and girls’ work thirty- 
two; floral department forty-four. 

The Interstate Fair closes its gates at 6 o’clock 
and then the 

ELKS’ STREET FAIR AND JUBILEE 
will keep the visitor entertained until long after “cur¬ 
few tolls the knell of parting day.” 

The Elks have the grounds formerly occupied by 


the old fruit fair, and they now have a well appointed 
Midway with all the usual attractions. In addition 
to their importations from Mexican, Algerian and 
German villages,” they will have the Royal Italian 
Band which will be seen as well as heard in the big 
tent, where also will take place the various athletic, 
cavalry, rock drilling, and other contests and if the 
visitor fails to get his money’s worth it is because he 
has come from a land of which these princes of enter¬ 
tainers have not read. 

They have set aside $1,000 for a rock drilling con¬ 
test, which will take place September 23d or 24th; 
there will be four prizes divided into $500. First, 
$300; second, $100; third, and fourth, $50. 

They have built a lii^e of booths 600 feet long 
which will be occupied as a street fair, and used for 
working manufacturing exhibits. It is here that 
Spokane’s infant industries may be seen. » 

September 14th will be Elks’ day. Their $75,000 
temple will be dedicated; a class of 250 fawns will be 
initiated, and a big parade at night will lead the pleas¬ 
ure hunter through the Midway and the big tent 
where Ellery’s Royal Italian Band will play to-night 
and each night to and including September 24th. 

The visitor from the east and, indeed, from the 
Inland Empire itself, can learn much of value con¬ 
cerning the substantial opportunities that are lying 
all over this great expanse of territory, extremely 
rich in natural resources, waiting to be appropriated, 
by the wide awake, industrious man who has the 
good judgment to act when the opportunity comes, 
for making himself independent. 

The magnificent specimens of e-rain, fruit and veg¬ 
etables that are already on exhibition in Horticul¬ 
tural Hall, give unmistakable evidence of the pro¬ 
ductiveness of the soil and the data that has been 
collected by E. J. Fellowes, secretary of the Spokane 
Chamber of Commerce, and other energetic citizens 
of Spokane will enable the homeseeker to put his 
finger, so. to speak, on the spot suited to his needs or 
desires, and in the exhibits themselves he may see 
just what the land will produce in any perticular lo¬ 
cality. 

All of the railroads entering Spokane have made 
a special round trip rate of one and one-third fare, 
and. the citizens of the Inland Empire will probably 
avail themselves of the opoortunity to visit the Elec¬ 
tric City. The Northern Pacific Palouse branch and 
all trains on the O. R. & N| will allow their excur¬ 
sionists to leave the train at the Fair grounds, thus 
saving them not alone the care fare, but much time 
and inconvenience. 





PUBLIC LAND. 


MINING. 


MINING IN DUCRTOWN, TENNESSEE. 

The farmers in the vicinity of Ducktown, Tenn., 
and the Tennessee Copper Company and the Duck- 
town Sulphur, Copper and Iron Company, employ¬ 
ing 3,000 men, are having a bitter fight. 

'The farmers claim that the fumes from the the 
smelter destroy all the vegetation and are trying their 
utmost to close the smelters; on the other hand the 
three thousand employes of the smelters are joining 
hands with their employers and are using every en¬ 
deavor to prevent a shut down. The courts have 
been appealed to and temporary injunctions have 
been granted so it is impossible to tell just where the 
matter will end, as both sides seem determined to 
fight the case as long as possible. There is justice 
on both sides; the smelter men have nearly $1,000,- 
ooo invested, while the land is all the fanners have, 
and neither can leave without serious loss. 


SHERIDAN, WASHINGTON. 

The Sheridan camp is again taking on the appear¬ 
ance of life and getting in readiness to be a large 
shipper next spring, as soon as the Great Northern 
is ready to haul ore. D. M. Snyder, the father of the 
camp is getting the K'ittie Clyde and Rebekah ready 
to ship. Both are rich. 


BAKER CITY, OREGON. 

The well known Belcher group of six claims has 
been purchased by the Daines Gold Mining & Milling 
Company. The price paid was $75,000. 

The buyers of the California mine which was re¬ 
cently sold could have realized a snug profit on their 
investment in 24 hours after the deal was closed, but 
they refused to sell. 

The Cable Cove district, twelve miles from Sump¬ 
ter, have petitioned for apostoffice. The properties 
in this district are rich in free milling ore near the 
surface, but get baser as depth is acquired, although 
the values increase. 

The Chloride Consolidated Mining Company is 
putting in a complete 5~drill air compressor and Pel- 
ton water wheel outfit on their property near Haines 
Oregon. 

Dixie Butte, forty miles east of Sumpter is now 
the proud possessor of a forty-ton smelter, which is 
a boon to the many promising properties in this dist¬ 
rict. The plant is owned by the Dixie Mining & 


3 ^ 

Smelting Company. Prosperity is the word in this 
camp. 

The mineral product of the Sumpter Camp for the 
year of 1901 is estimated fi> reach $10,000,000. 


LOOMIS, WASHINGTON. 

D. G. Chilson has made an important discovery on 
Toat’s Coulee Creek, fifteen miles west of Loomis, 
of ten feet of solid continuous gold and silver ore 
which averages about $50.00 to the ton. 


DIXIE, IDAHO. 

The Midas Gold Mining Company have a com¬ 
plete ten-stamp mill, rotary tables and etc., en route, 
for working the ore from their Ajax mine. The 
machinery will be installed this week. 

REPUBLIC, WASHINGTON.' 

The WauConda Company has purchased a thirty- 
ton Rossman mill for their mine near Republic. 

OKONOGAN, WASHINGTON. 

The Golden King has been bonded to W. L. Ap- 
■ pleford of Chicago. 

NORTHPORT, WASHINGTON. 

The troubles at the Northport smelter are gradu¬ 
ally blowing over. Manager Kadish has a force of 
two hundred and fifty men at work. 


SLOGAN CITY, B. C. 

Eighty men are now on the pay roll at the Arling¬ 
ton. This mine has a strong lead of continuous ore; 
has paid $20,000 on its loan, secured for develop¬ 
ment, and is in a very promising condition. 

The Speculator group adjoins the Arlington, on 
the same lead, and follows it for about two> miles. 

This property was bonded for $40,000. 

The government pack trail which passes within 
short distance of the Valentine group, on the head of 
Four Mile Creek, will enable this group to be a 
steady shipper as the owner now has a large quantity 
of ore on the dump, and will put on a sufficient force 
of miners to keep the pack train going all the time. 

ROSSLAND, B. C. 

The Maud S., of the Onondago group of mines lo¬ 
cated on Champion Creek, behaved very nicely the 
other day producing $2,000 worth of bullion in a 
twelve hour run by her ten stamp mill. 















4 


PUBLIC LAND. 


NEW OPPORTUNITIES. 


INLAND EMPIRE. 

25,000,000 Acres Vacant Land. 

The great Inland Empire of which Spokane, 
Washington, is the natural center, has millions of 
opportunities for those who wish to make use of the 
unlimited natural resources in which this mighty 
territory abounds. There are seven large land dis¬ 
tricts surrounding this Inland Capitol in whi c h there 
are approximately 25,000,000 acres of vacant unap¬ 
propriated government land, divided as follows: 
North Yakima, 1,500,000; Spokane Fails, 3,000,- 
000; Walla Wallla, 1,342,000; Waterville, 4,000,- 
000; Coeur d’Alene, 3,000,000; Lewiston, 5,500,- 
000; and La Grande, 5,500,000. Every kind and 
class of land may be found in nearly every one, if not 
is each of these districts. Gold, platinum, silver, lead, 
copper, mica, coal, oil, as well as rubies and opals 
are now being produced from the mineral lands, in 
about 5 per cent of their known capacity; the forests 
are supplying millions of feet of pine, fir, tamarack 
and cedar lumber, but will support ten mills to where 
there is one operating today; the grazing lands are 
furnishing feed for over a million sheep, and thous¬ 
ands of cattle and horses have never had a mouthful 
of feed that was not gathered by themselves, from 
the bunch grass that grows all over this entire dis¬ 
trict. 

Millions of acres of fine agricultural and fruit land 
which will grow all kinds of grains and grasses and 
every thing in the line of fruit from a fig to an apple, 
are lying vacant and unappropriated, waiting for the 
touch of man’s energy to quicken them into' great 
wealth producers. 

The farmers and stock raisers do not have any of 
the diseases to contend with that are common to east¬ 
ern hogs and other stock, and the climate and other 
. conditions are likewise favorable to. man as well as 
beast. 

Enough energy is being wasted in the various un¬ 
appropriated streams of this district to furnish all 
the light, power and heat that is now used for all 
purposes. 

500 thriving towns are without an adequate water 
supply for general purposes as well as for fire pro¬ 
tection, and are also in darkness, in the midst of 
this great flood of water that is going to' waste every 
time the watch ticks. In this one item alone there 
are opportunities for one thousand persons each with 


$5,000 in cash to harness the streams and to furnish 
light, water and power to these towns, many of which 
are beyond the reach of any adequate gravity system, 
but which could readily be supplied by artesian flows. 

The storage of water from the various water 
sheds which surround this immense territory is a 
profitable business that might be engaged in by an¬ 
other thousand persons with $5,000 each, either by 
acquiring and developing these water rights and the 
purchase of large tracts of government land with 
scrip, and grant railroad land with cash on easy pay¬ 
ments and placing the water on these lands for irri¬ 
gating purposes or the direct sale of water to owners 
and cultivators of land. 

There is, perhaps, no line of independent manufac¬ 
tures which could not be profitably handled at one or 
more of the thriving little cities or railroad centers in 
this district. 

The development of the latent possibilities of this 
vast domain has hardly'begun, and those who now 
possess themselves of these natural advantages whi c h 
practically can be had for nothing, and will use them 
according to safe busines rsules, must of necessity 
grow wealthy very fast, and at the same time contrib¬ 
ute in a great degree to the happiness and comfort of 
the citizens of the locality in which they locate. 


NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA. 

This district is composed of Lincoln, Keith, Per¬ 
kins, Logan, Custer, Dawson, McPherson, Frontier 
and Gasper counties. In the two last named coun¬ 
ties the public land has been entirely exhausted, but 
in the seven counties first named there are approxi¬ 
mately 1,000,000 acres of fine grazing land yet in 
the hands of the government. There are already 
about fifteen different irrigation propositions in this 
district that are in successful operation, and the local 
officers inform us that there are several other oppor¬ 
tunities for conducting water on the land in large 
quantities for irrigating purposes. All of the land 
taken of late has been under the homestead law. The 
business of this office is conducted by Messrs. George 
E. French, register; Frank Bacon, receiver, and F. 
W. Bugout, chief clerk. 


Six hundred and forty acres of school land was 
sold to Edward E. Brehm of Wilkinson last week for 
$ 8 , 57 2 - 2 5 - The land is just a mile from Snoqualmie 
Falls, Washington, and brought over one thousand 
dollars more than its appraised value. 

















PUBLIC LAND. 


5 


LAND LAWS AND DECISIONS. 


LIMITED RIGHT TO PURCHASE GRAZING 
LAND. 

The Act of March 3, 1901. gives to' settlers within 
the limits of the Fort Fetterman Military Reserva¬ 
tion in Wyoming, the right to purchase 160 acres of 
grazing land, provided they had made homestead 
entry of other land within that reservation prior to 
the passage of the act. This land is purchased the 
same as was done in the old pre-emption law, except 
that the homestead entry must first be perfected, and 
the proof on the grazing land purchase must first be 
approved by the Commissioner of the General Land 
Office before payment can be accepted. The applica¬ 
tion and proof under this new law must be made to 
comply with the instructions contained in Circular of 
May 18th, 1901. 


LIMITED USE OF TIMBER ON FOREST RE¬ 
SERVES. 

The law relating to the use of timber and stone 
on forest reservations provides as folllows: 

“The Secretary of the Interior may permit, under 
regulations to be prescribed by him, the use of timber 
and stone found upon such reservations, free of 
charge, by bona fide settlers, miners, residents, and 
prospectors for minerals, for firewood, fencing, build¬ 
ings, mining, prospecting, and other domestic pur¬ 
poses, as may be needed by such persons for such pur¬ 
poses ; such timber to be used within the State or Ter¬ 
ritory, respectively, where such reservations may be 
located.” 

By circular of April 10, 1901, Paragraph 21 of 
Rules and Regulations of April 4th, 1900, was 
amended so as to' provide as follows : 

“This provision is limited to persons resident in 
the State or Territory where the forest reservation 
is located who' have not a sufficient supply of timber 
or stone on their own claims or lands for the purpose 
enumerated, or for necessary use in developing the 
minerals or other natural resources of the lands own¬ 
ed or occupied by them. Such persons, therefore, 
are permitted to take timber and stone from public 
lands in the forest reservations under the terms of the 
law above quoted, strictly for their individual use on 
their own claims or lands owned or occupied by them 
within the State or Territory where such reserva¬ 
tion is located, but not for sale or disposal, or use 
on other lands, or by other persons;, provided, how¬ 
ever, that the provisions of this paragraph shall not 
apply to companies or corporations. Before any tim¬ 
ber or stone can be taken hereunder from the forest 


reserves, the person entitled thereto must first make 
application to the forest supervisor in charge of the 
reservation, or part of reservation, setting forth his 
residence and post-office address, designating the lo¬ 
cation, amount, and value of the timber or stone pro¬ 
posed to be taken, the place where, and the purpose 
for which the said timber or stone will be used, stat¬ 
ing, in case the application is for timber, what saw¬ 
mill or other agent, if any, will be employed to do the 
cutting, removing and sawing, and pledging that no 
more shall be cut from the reservation than he actu¬ 
ally needs, for bona fide use on his own land or claim; 
and that none shall be sold, disposed of, or used on 
any other than his own land or claim; and guarantee¬ 
ing to remove and safely dispose of all tops, brush, 
and refuse, cutting beyond danger of fire therefrom. 
Upon receipt of the application, the supervisor will 
immediately make investigation of the facts in the 
case and transmit the application, with report and 
recommendation, to the. superintendent in charge. 
If, in his judgment, the application be meritorious, 
and no injury to the forest cover will result from the 
removal of such timber or stone, he will thereupon 
approve such application, giving the party permission 
to remove the timber or stone under the supervision 
of a forest officer: Provided, That where the stump- 
age value of the timber exceeds one hundred dollars, 
permission must be obtained from the Department, 
and for this purpose the superintendent, in all such 
cases, will submit the application to' the Commission¬ 
er of the General Land Office, with his recommenda¬ 
tion thereon. In case the application be approved, 
the superintendent will be notified and the cutting 
will be allowed, under supervision, as in case where 
the amount involved is less than one hundred dollars. 
Every forest supervisor having charge and supervis¬ 
ion of the cutting of timber under the foregoing reg¬ 
ulations, will submit quarterly report to the superin¬ 
tendent in charge of the reservation, who will 
promptly forward them to the Commissioner of the 
General Land Office for transmission tq the Depart¬ 
ment, in order that the Secretary of the Interior may 
be advised to the quantity of timber cut and whether 
the privilege granted is being abused. These reports 
should show the names of the persons who applied, 
during the quarter, for permisssion to cut timber free 
of charge, the kind of timber applied for, the quanti¬ 
ty, the stumpage value of the same, and the purpose 
for which the applicant desired to use it.” 

Farm tools m>ke some men rich and others poor; 
the farmer who uses and cares for them properly, 
gets rich, the one who only pays for them gets poor. 















6 


PUBLIC LAND. 


MISCELLANY. 


WE WANT TO KNOW. 

Under this head the publishers will ask a number 
of questions each week, and invite answers to them 
by any of our readers who may be interested in the 
development of .their districts. We wish it distinct¬ 
ly understood that the answers must be composed of 
facts, wholly freed from all fiction, and based upon 
the personal knowledge of the person answering 
the question. As an evidence of good faith always 
give full name and postoffice, but not for publication. 

Where there is a tract of vacant government 
swamp land of one hundred acres or more in an al¬ 
titude not too high for the succeessful culture of cran¬ 
berries, and which can be drained at a cost, not to' ex¬ 
ceed three dollars per acre. State exact location 
of land with reference to government survey, if* 
one has been made, or to some natural monument if 
unsurveyed, and also the nearest railroad town. State 
kind of timber or brush that is growing in swamp, 
number of acres in tract that is now partially covered 
with water, and whether a water supply can be had 
with which to flood the marsh at all times of the year. 


The name and address of each person who has 
raised and sold $500 worth of celery this season. 
State also the quality and character of land used, its 
location, distance from market, amount raised, price 
received, variety planted, whether land was irrigated 
and amount of help used. 


The name and address of each person who has 
raised and sold $500 worth of poultry and eggs dur¬ 
ing the past twelve months State varieties used, dis¬ 
tance from market, number sold, price received and 
complete item of expense and income for each month. 


The name and address of each person who has sold 
from the products of his own bees, $500 worth of 
honey during the past twelve months. 'State number 
of hives, location of land, pounds produced, price 
received, distance from market, and tell all you know 
about the flower and blossom fields from which the 
honey was gathered. 

One year’s subscription will be added to the credit 
of any subscriber who furnishes us absolutely cor¬ 
rect answers to any of the above questions. 


THE BOUNDARY QUESTION SETTLED. 

The long drawn out controversy over the dividing 
line betweeen the Coeur d’Alene and the Lewiston 
land districts in the state of Idaho' has at last been 
settled and the business from the lands lying* within 
the disputed territory will be considered on and after 
the 24th day of Septembre, 1901, as will be seen by 
the following official notice: 

No. 1005. 

“Notice of Change of Boundary Line between the 
Coeur d’Alene and Lewiston Land Districts, in the 
State of Idaho: 

Notice is hereby given that the President of the 
United States, by executive order dated June 21, 
1901, in accordance with the provisions of section 
two hundred and fifty-three of the Revised Statutes 
of the United States, and by virtue of the authority 
thereby given, directed that the existing boundary 
line between the Coeur d’Alene and Lewiston land 
districts in the Staee of Idaho, be, and it is hereby, 
changed and re-established as follows: 

Beginning on the boundary line between the States 
of Idaho and Washington, at the northwest corner of 
fractional township forty-two north, range six west, 
Boise Meridian; thence east along the boundary line 
between townships forty-two and forty-three north 
to the crest of the Bitter Root Mountains. 

Further notice of the precise time when this order 
will be carried into effect will be given by the Regis¬ 
ters and Receivers at Coeur d’Alene and Lewiston, 
by publication. 

Given under my hand at the City of Washington, 
this 28th day of June, A. D. 1901. 

Binger Hermann, 

Commissioner of the General Land Office.” 

Lewiston, Idaho, August 20, 1901.—Notice is 
hereby given that on and after the 24th day of Sep¬ 
tember, 1901, filings will be received, and a general 
Land Office business transacted in Township 42, N., 
in all ranges east and west of the Boise Meridian. 

J. B. West, 
Register. 


Another large fire, in which perhaps a greater 
amount of damage has been done, is the one which is 
now raging in the Jersey coal mine at Plymouth, 
Pennsylvania. Expert fighters have been at work 
trying to control this fire for a (month and they have 
now about abandoned all hope of extinguishing the 
flames. It is believed that it will require fifty years 
in which to burn itself out. 













PUBLIC LAND. 


7 


ANSWERS TO SUBSCRIBERS. 

Under this head complete answers will be given 
to subscribers’ questions concerning the public land 
of the United States. Name and address of each 
subscriber must be given with letter asking the 
question. 

Mary L., Oregon.—I settled upon my land seven 
years ago when I was single; the land has now been 
surveyed, but the plats have not been filed in the 
local office. Can I get married before I file my appli¬ 
cation without loss of my land ? 

Answer.—Yes, you can do that without any 
trouble, 

By act of June 6, 1900, a single, deserted or di¬ 
vorced woman who settled on the public lands subject 
to appropriation under the homestead laws, prior to 
the survey, and who married or wishes to marry 
before the filing of ithe township plat and the making 
of her homestead entry, can do so and full credit 
will be allowed her for residence, cultivation and 
improvement from the date of her settlement, al¬ 
though she can take the full seven years from the 
date of her entry before completing her final proof 
if she wishes to do so. 

You can also offer your application to make 
final proof at the same time you apply to enter the 
land, but your proof will not be taken until the ex¬ 
piration of ninety days from the date of your filing. 


I. E., Wash.—I have a homestead that is mostly 
timber; they tell me I cannot cut the timber until 
I get a deed to the land. Is that True? A ns. You 
may cut the timber providing you follow the ax 
with the plow; that is, you must clear and cultivate 
the land when the timber is removed, in order to 
show your good faith. 

A. C., Idaho.—July 9, 1901, I settled on what 
now seems to be railroad land. The Government 
has not yet made a survey. Can I hold it under the 
homestead law ? 

Ans.—No. The Act of July 1st, 1898, only gives 
relief to settlers whose residence dates from prior to 
January 1, 1898. There is no law giving persons 
who settle on railroad land after January 1st, 1898, 
any relief. A settlement on the odd numbered sec¬ 
tions of the indemnity strip any time prior to selec¬ 
tion by the railroad claimant will defeat its action. 


IDAHO STATE LANDS. 

Much worry is indulged in by those who have 


taken up land and made their settlements after the 
application of the State for the survey of the town¬ 
ships, but before the work in the field had been begun, 
for fear that 'the state, will make selection of their 
lands. 

The work of the State Board in making its selec¬ 
tions with all possible haste is meeting with the com¬ 
mendation of those interested in the general welfare 
of the State, as these townships cannot be settled un¬ 
til the State has had its opportunity of selecting the 
lands allowed it under the enabling act. Perhaps 
an hundred of settlers have been turned away from 
Idaho during the past sixty days, owing to the exist¬ 
ence of this preference right of selection by the 
State Board, and it is doubtful if in the end the State 
will profit by the exercise of its right under the Act 
of August 18, 1894, for it has already caused many 
good, reliable citizens to locate elsewhere, and has 
only resulted in passing the timber from these lands 
into the hands of speculators who can hold these 
large districts intact for twenty years if they wish to 
do so, for thelaw allows them that time in which to re¬ 
move the timber, if they wish to take it. 


LITTLE BRISTLES. 

The Idaho State Board is having a merry chase 
in trying to head off the squatters who are settling 
on the fine pine lands of Idaho and for which the Act 
of July 18, 1894, has given the state a preference 
right of selection, owing to its application for the 
survey of several townships. It is supposed that 
eastern speculators are behind these squatters and 
that many of the locations are simply made to defeat 
the right of the state to select these quarter sections, 
which have a present market value of about $1,500 
each. It is rumored that Commissioner Hermann 
has ordered the state board to report on the acreage 
already selected by them before he will permit any 
more selections. 

The Tacoma Grain Company has increased its 
capital stock to $200,000. This was made necessary 
by reason of the large acreage of heretofore vacant 
lands that are this year producing large yields of 
grain. 

A prominent land attorney of Rapid City, South 
Dakata, will be called upon to defend himself against 
disbarment proceedings in a few days. He is charg¬ 
ed with threatening the lives of Register George P. 
Bennett and Receiver William S. Warner, and also 
with securing illegal entries, and with being guilty 
of perjury in his practice before the Land Office. 













8 


PUBLIC LAND 


Land Offices and Officers of the United States. 


E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior Department, Washington, D. C. 
Binger Hermann, Commissioner General Land Office, Washington, D. C' 


Alabama— 

Huntsville. 

Montgomery. 

Alaska— 

Rampart. 

Sitka. 

St. Michael. 

Arizona— 

Prescott. 

Tucson. 

Arkansas— 

Camden. 

Dardanelle. 

Harrison. 

Little Rock. 

California— 

Eureka. 

Independence. 

Los Angeles. 

Marysville. 

Redding. 

Sacraemnto. 

San Francisco ... 

Stockton. 

Susanville. 

Visalia. 

Colorado— 

Akron. 

Del Norte. 

.Denver. 

Durango. 

Gunnison. 

Glenwood Springs 

Hugo. 

Leadville. 

Lamar. 

Montrose. 

Pueblo. 

Sterling. 

Florida— 

Gainesville. 

Idaho— 

Blackfoot. 

Boise. 

Coeur d’Alene.... 

Hailey. 

Lewiston. 

Iowa— 

Des Moines. 

Kansas— 

Colby. 

Dodge City. 

Topeka. 

Wakeeny. 

Tiouisiana— 

Natchitoches. 

New Orleans. 

Michigan— 

Marquette. 

Minnesota— 

Crookston. 

Duluth. 

Marshall. 

St. Cloud. 

Mississippi— 

Jackson. 

Missouri— 

Boonville. 

Ironton. 

Springfield. 

Montana— 


REGISTER. 

John A. Steele. 

Robert Barker. 

Daniel B. McCann_ 

John W. Dudley. 

Franklin Moses. 

Fredrick A. Tritle, Jr.. 
Milton R. Moore. 

Charles T. Duke. 

Joseph H. Battenfield.. 
John I. Worthington... 
Harry H. Myers. 

Henry A. Olesten. 

Stafford W. Austin... 
Angus J. Crookshank. 

Frank W. Johnson_ 

Frank M. Swasey. 

Thomas Fraser. 

Aaron B. Hunt. 

John D. Maxey. 

Thomas S. Roseberry. 
Geo. W. Stewart. 

Peter Campbell. 

James H. Baxter. 

Charles D. Ford. . 

Fredrick C. Perkins... 

Melvin A. Deering. 

John F. Squire. 

Lon E. Foote. 

Wat T. Beall.... ; . 

Willia mA. Merrill. 

James A. Layton. 

John R. Gordon.... 

David C. Fleming. 

Walter G. Robinson... 

Lorenzo R. Thomas... 

•Tames King. 

David H. Budlong— 

Neal J. Sharp. 

John B. West. 

Thornton S. Howard.. 

Kleber E. Wilcockson. 

Thomas A. Scates. 

George W. Fisher. 

Isaac T. Purcell. 

J. Ernest Breda. 

Walter L. Cohen. 

Thomas Scadden. 

Sylvester Peterson.... 
William E. Culkin — 

Cyrus P. Shepard. 

Myron D. Taylor. 

James Hill..'.. 

William H. Martin_ 

George Steel. 

Martin V. Gideon. 


RECEIVER. 
Herschel V. Cashin. 
John C. Leftwich. 

Wm. R. Edwards. 
Albert J. Apperson. 
Albert E. Rose. 

John C. Martin. 

John H. Bauman. 

Edward A. Shicker. 
John G. Chitwood. 
Felix S. Baker. 

John E. Bush. 

James F. Thompson. 
Frank E. Densmore. 
Arthur W. Kinney. 
Henry Malloch. 

Lloyd L. Carter. 
William A. Newcum 
Sargent S. Mortin. 
George A. McKenzie. 
Alfred H. Taylor. 
Othello Scribner. 

George W. Warner. 
Peter F. Barclay. 
Benjamin K Kimberly 
Daniel L. Sheets. 

Miss Martha C. Brown 
James W. Ross. 

John P. Dickinson. 
Fred Butler. 

C. Frost Liggett. 

John E. Pelton. 

John J. Lambert. 
Charles B. Timberlake 

Henry S. Chubb. 

George B. Rogers. 
Edward E. Garrett. 
Charles D. Warner. 
Wm. A. Hodgman. 
Charles H. Garby. 

Stephen J. Loughran. 

Cyrus Anderson. 

Lewis J. Pettijohn. 
Rudolph B. Welch. 
Frank W. King 

Charles J. Greene. 
Charles P. Johnston. 

John Jones. 

August F. George. 

Jay M. Smith. 
Christopher F. Case. 
Alva Eastman. 

George E. Matthews. 

Herman Schmidt. 

C. Sanford Russell. 
George A. Ramsey. 


Bozeman. 

Helena. 

Kalispell. 

Lewistown. 

Milesi City.. 

Missoula. 

Nebraska— 

Alliance. 

Broken Bow. 

Lincoln. 

McCook. 

North Platte. 

O’Neill. 

Sidney. 

Valentine. 

Nevada— 

Carson City. 

New Mexico— 

Clayton. 

Las Cruces. 

Roswell. 

Santa Fe. 

North Dakota— 

Bismarck. 

Devil’s Lake. 

Fargo. 

Grand Fonts. 

Minot. 

Oklahoma— 

Alva. 

*E1 Reno. 

Enid. 

Guthrie. 

Kingfisher. 

*Lawton. 

Mangum. 

Oklahoma. 

Perry... 

Woodward. 

Oregon— 

Burns. 

La Grande. 

Lakeview. 

Oregon City. 

Roseburg. 

The Dalles. 

South Dakota— 

Aberdeen. 

Chamberlain. 

Huron. 

Mitchell. 

Pierre. 

Rapid City. 

Watertown. 

Utah- 

Salt Lake City... 

Washington- 
North Yakima.... 

Olympia. 

Seattle. 

Spokane. 

Vancouver. 

Walla Walla. 

Waterville. 

Wisconsin— 

Ashland. 

Eau Claire. 

Wyoming— 

Buffalo. 

Cheyenne. 

Evanston. 

Douglas. 

Lander. 

Sundance. 


Albert L. Love. 

George D. Grpene., 

Frank H. Nash_ 

Edward Brassey... 

Samuel Gordon. 

Elmer E. Hershey. 


Fred M. Dorrington... 

James Whitehead. 

Joseph W. Johnson... 
Francis M. Rathbun. 

George E. French. 

Stephen J. Weekes... 

Robley D. Harris. 

James C. Pettijohn... 


Oliver H. Gallup. 

Edward W. Fox. 
Emil Solignac.... 
Howard Leland.. 
Manuel R. Otero. 


Alex. C. McGillivray.. 

Ole Serumgard. 

Charles N. Valentine. 

Ernest H. Kent. 

Thomas E. Olsgard... 

Robert A. Cameron... 


James B. Cullison — 

John Boles. 

Emory D. Brownlee.. 


John A. Trotter... 
Seymour S. Price. 
Alfred H. Boles... 
Frank D. Healy... 


George W. Hayes. 

Edward W. Bartlett.. 
Eldon M. Brattain — 
Charles B. Moores — 
Joseph T. Bridges — 
Jay P. Lucas. 


John S. Vetter. 

William V. T-uras. 

Charles A. Blake. 

George E. Foster. 

Albert Wheel on.. 

Georere P. Bennett.... 
Lee Stover. 


Frank D. Hobbs. 


Walter .T. Reed. 

Frank G. Deckebach. 
Edward P. Tremner.. 

William H. Ludden_ 

JVilliam R. Dunbar... 

John M. Hill. 

Matthew B. Malloy — 


August Doenitz. 

Alfred Cypreansen... 


. Prince A. Gatchell_ 

.... William E. Chaplin... 

- Charles Kingston. 

. AlbertD.Ghamberlain. 

. William T. Adams_ 

- Alpha E. Hoyt. 

* Officers that have just been established to 
from the Kiowa and Comanche reservations. 


Andrew J. Edsall. 
John Horsky. 

William C. Whipps. 
Louis W. Eldridge. 
James M. Rhoades. 
William O. Ranft. 

William R. Akers. 
Frank H. Young. 
Thomas P. Kennard. 
Joel A. Piper. 

Frank Bacon. 

Richard H. Jenness. 
James L.McTntosh, Jr 
Albert L. Towle. 

David H. Hall. 

Albert W. Thompson. 
Henry D. Bowman. 
David L. Geyer. 
Edward F. Hobart. 

John Satterlund. 
Henry E. Baird. 
DeWitt C. Tufts. 
Christian L. Lindstrom 
Abner L. Hanscom. 

William J. French. 


David W. Eastman. 
Fredrick E. McKinley. 
Jacob C. Admire. 


John A. Oliphant. 
Anton H. Classen. 

Joel R. Scott. 

John W. Miller. 

Charles Newell. 
Samuel O. Swackhamer 
Harry Bailey. 

William Galloway. 
James H. Booth. 

Otis Patterson. 

Frank A. Brown. 
Charles L. Brockway. 
John Westdahl. 
Thomas C. Burns. 
Henry E. Cutting. 
William S. Warner. 
George W. Case. 

George A. Smith. 

Miles Cannon. 

John O’B. Scobey. 
Columbus T. Tyler. 
Samuel A. Wells. 

Lynn B. Clough. 
Thomas Mosgrove. 
Lucien E. Kellog. 

Nels Auley. 

Alexander Meggett. 

Ephraim H. Smock. 
Edward A. Slack. 
Frank M. Foote. 
Merris C. Barrow. 

Mrs. Minnie Williams. 
Samuel A. Young, 
accomodate the business 


rr i||U Aff am new Opportunities for Vou and 
J6IWU Ullvl* vour Triends. * « « « « 

For a limited time “PUBLIC LAND” will be sent to five 
different addresses when sent in by one person for five dollars. 

Each issue of “PUBLIC LAND” will contain more of value 
to the subscriber interested in public laud matters than the full 
price of the year’s subscription. Some will receive a hundred 
times more. Get your friends to subscribe now. Send all re¬ 
mittances whenever possible by Post Office or Express Money 
Order, made payable to “PUBLIC LAND.” 

Office 124-25 Auditorium Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


LITTLE BRISTLES. 


The cotton crop is estimated by the statistician of 
the Agricultural Department to be about 12 per cent, 
short of the last ten year average. This shortage is 
due to the drouths prevailing in the cotton states. 






















































































































































































































ADVERTISEMENTS. 


This Space is Reserved lor 

H. B. WILSON & COMPANY, 

Attorney and Solicitors of American 
and Foreign Patents. 


OFFICES: LeDroit Building, Cor. 8th and F 
Sts. N. W. Opp. U. S. Patent Office. 


WASHINGTON,.D.C. 


INLAND PRINTING COMPANY, 

610-612 Sprague Ave. 

Print Anything. Try us with your 
next order. 

It will save you money. 


ATTEND THE 

Puget Sound Business College 

for a practical, up-to-date business course. 
Bookkeeping, penmanship, stenography 
and typewriting. Send ten cents for sam¬ 
ple dozen cards and how you can earn 
some money during spare time. Address 
D. M. ENAUF, Principal, 902 Yakima ave., 
Tacoma, Wash. 

0. W. KENNEDY, 

Livery Stables, 

Gentle Driving Horses. Good Drivers to 
show you the land you want to see. 
Everything first class. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 

DOUGLAS HOTEL, 

William Newlove, Prop., 

AMERICAN PLAN. 

$1.00 and $1.50 Per Day. 

Prompt, Neat, Clean Service. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 

WILSON CREEK LIVERY STABLE 
R. J. Armstrong, Prop. 

GOOD HORSES, GOOD RIGS, GOOD 
DRIVERS, FIRST CLASS 
SERVICE. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 

CLAIR HUNT, 

Civil Engineer 
U. S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor. 

BOSSBURG, - - WASHINGTON. 


H. S SWENSON, 

United States Commissioner, District of 
Washington. 

Proprietor and Editor THE NEWPORT MINER 
Weekly, $1.50 per annum. 

NEWPORT, WASHINGTON 

M. L. SCHERMERH0RN, 
United States Commissioner 


There’s lots of good Vacant Agricultural Land 
tributary to 

LIND, . - - WASHINGTON 


WENTWORTH CLOTHING GO. 

Reliable Mens’ and 
Boys’ Outfitters. 

709-11 Riverside Ave. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 


J. W. MeCUNE, 

Farm and City Property For Sale 
or Exchange. 

MONEY TO LOAN. 

7-8 Sherwood Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 























•^~«~a~a~a~a~a~a-*a-‘-a-»-a*a-«-a-*-a-*-a-»-a-»-a*-aa-»-a-»a-«a-«a-*-a-«a'»a-*-a-»-a-*'a-*-a-»-a-*-a-»'a-»-a-«-a-*-a~» 

1 


Walton & Goodsell, Land Attorneys 


Leave of absence from your Homestead. Applications to 
amend your Homstead and making of all papers pertaining to 
Public Lands. Contests, protests and other bearings before 
any U. S. Land Office. The Commissioner of the General 
Land Office and the Interior Department. Mining Applica¬ 
tions. Military Bounty Land Warrants. Forest Reserve, 
Soldier’s Additional Homestead, and all other Land, Scrips 
bought and sold. We can get your tangles straightened with¬ 
out your coming to the office 


Office Rooms 124-25 Auditorium Block, Phone Main 369 


ipokane, XV"asbiiiigton 


i* , tj , *4i^8 , *8'^^U'^a~a^a'^a^a**a^a-**a-»*a , »-a , »-a , *-a-« , a > *-a , **8-**8a , » , a‘ ,, a ,,, a , * , a , » , a'* , a ,,, a ,,, a , * , a , » , a‘»*a‘» , a’» , a , * , 8 ,# ‘$$‘ # '8 , « , 8 , »3 



? This will introduce the Northwestern Busi- j 

1 ri Bf 1 k § H ness t0 t ^ ie rea ders of Public Land. The j 

A purpose of this advertisement is to induce the \ 

£ 1 I P u k^ c to investigate the merits of the institution, \ 

I I for on MERIT we build. ] 


Its students hold United States records for 
proficiency in Civil Service and Bookkeeping. 

FIVE COURCES OF STUDY. 

Shorthand and Typewriting, Civil Service, Busi¬ 
ness, Normal, and Telegraphy. 

For detailed information call at the office or 
send for catalogue. 


i J1 T J iiiiiuijjui 

} SPOKANE, WASH, 

-a-a^a^a-a^a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a^a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a^a-a-a-a-a' 





















£//£//0£/£,V7M££ /J £//£//0P£ 0£ £££/y/l£/0//. 



PVBLISHED 

WEEKLY. 


© 


9EV0TED TO THOSE 
INTERESTED IIW 
THE PVBLIC LANDS 

THE VniTED STATES 


$ 1.50 PER YEAR 

m ADVAHCE. 



Vol. i. No. 5. 

Spokane, Wash., Sept. 17, 1901. 

Single Copies, 10 Cents 



1 CONTENTS. 

Editorial— 1 

Many New Ones in Nevada.. . . 4 

1 Have Spokane Museum of Min¬ 

Ashland, Wisconsin. 4 

erals .. 1 

— 

Which is Worse ? . 1 

Land Laws and Decisions— 


Ninety Days for Filing. 3 

Current Topics— 

A Badly Used Law.5 

A Fine Opportunity For Large 

Hodges vs. Daniels. 5 

Colony. 2 

Additional Homestead Law .... c 

A Place for Storage Irrigation .. 2 



Miscellany— 

Mining— 

Did It Pay ? .. . . 6 

A Fine Mineral Display. 3 

Land Department for the Philip¬ 

Washington Coal at Honolulu... 3 

pines... 6 

Kaslo, B. C. 3 

We Want to Know. 6 

— 

Can Be Successfully Contested.. 7 

New Opportunities— 

Personals. 7 

f New Township to be Opened.. . 4 

Answers to Subscribers. 7 

Utah.4 

Little Bristles.... 7 

Washington. 4 

Land Offices and Officers of the 

Minnesota. 4 

United States. 8 


4 


























































ADVERTISEMENTS 


JOSEPH HUDSON SHORT, 

Attorney at Law 
and 

United States Commissioner, 


VICKSBURG, 


MISSISSIPPI. 


R0LHN J. REEVES, 


United States Commissioner, 


WILBUR, 


WASHINGTON. 


ALFRED THOMPSON, 
Attorney at Law, Notary Public, 
U. S. Court Commissioner, 

Real Estate, Loans, Abstracts, 


619 MAIN ST., OLYMPIA, WASH. 


SIDNEY MOOR HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

In and for District of Washington. 


HOQUIAM, 


WASHINGTON. 


H. G. LAKE, B. S., B. S. B., L. L. D„ 

Attorney and Counsellor at Law, 
U. S. Commissioner, Notary Public. 

Land Scrip of all kinds. 

School Land selections made. 


JOSEPH, 


OREGON. 


DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. 
District of Washington. 
Office of 

A. R. SWANSON, 
United States Commissioner, 


WILSON CREEK, 


WASHINGTON. 


FRED H. SCOTT, 

U. S. Commissioner, Notary Public. 


Abstracts of Land Entries. Land Entries 
and Final Proofs. Prompt and reliable 
service at moderate prices. 


MADDUX, 


MONTANA. 


T. D. HASTIE, 

Attorney at Law, 

U. S. Court Commissioner. 


Homestead Filings and Final Proofs. 
OROFINO, IDAHO. 


ORIN H. WOODS, 
Surveyor and U. S. Commissioner. 

Land Filings and Final Proofs. 
Ditches Surveyed and Recorded. 


BASIN, 


WYOMING. 


JNO. JAS. GRAVES, 


Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, 
Conveyancer, Real Estate, 


MEYERS FALLS, ' WASHINGTON. 


FRED’K J. HOAGLAND, 


Attorney at Law, 


ODESSA, 


WASHINGTON. 


C. H. HOLDEN, 


Attorney at Law. 


Choice timber lands in large or small 
tracts. Timber land cruised and estimates 
given. Government lands located. Fruit 
lands. Ranch land. Grazing land for sale. 
Climate unsurpassed; no cold, no heat, 
lands, ranch land, grazing land for sale, 
no cyclones. Correspondence solicited. 


FLORENCE, OREGON. 


J. W. MARSHALL, 
Attorney at Law. 


Practice In all the Courts. 


207 Auditorium Blk., SPOKANE, WASH. 


HOMES FOR THE HOMESEEKERS 

LANDS FOR THE LANDLESS. 

We have a large list of the choicest 
farming lands in the Big Bend and 
throughout the Inland Empire. Improved 
farms $15 to $20 per acre. This is the sec¬ 
tion that produces 30,000,000 bushels of 
wheat per annum. Fine fruit; no failures; 
ideal climate. Money placed for non-resi¬ 
dents on first mortgages on first class 
land. Trantum & Schoonover, Odessa,Wn. 


J. B. ZIEGLER, 

Notary Public, Real Estate and Fire 
Insurance Age at. 


IMPROVED FARM LANDS, RAW 
LANDS AND TOWN PROPER¬ 
TIES FOR SALE. 


Prices and Terms will be Furnished 
Promptly. 


ODESSA, 


Office on First Avenue. 

WASHINGTON. 





Quickly secured. CUB FEE DUE WHEN PATENT 
OBTAINED. Send model, sketch or photo, with 
description for free report as to patentability. 48-PAGE 
HAND-BOOK FREE. Contains references and full 
information. WHITE FOB COPT OF OOB SPECIAL 
OFFER. It is the most liberal proposition ever made by 
a patent attorney, and EVERY INVENTOR SHOULD 
HEAD IT before applying for patent. Addreu: 


H.B, 




00 . 


PATENT LAWYERS, 

L« Droit Bldg., WASKSWGTOW, D. C. 


Free Homesteads. 


There are over 100 good quarter sections with 
in short distance of the Great Northern Railroad 
that are subject to homastead entry, the 6ame 
kind of land that produced 40 bushels of wheat 
to the acre this year. We have an accurate 
knowledge of these vacant tracts and will locate 
desirable parties on them at very reasonable 
rates. Call on 


H. E. STONE, 

With O. W. Stone Undertaking Co. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON 


See our Clubbing Offer 
on Eighth Page. 































































PUBLIC LAND. 


i 


m//o/7fm/(£/? /j t//£//op£ ofmmim 



Offices 124-125 Auditorium Bldg., Spokane, Wash. 


ADVERTISING ELATES ON APPLICATION. 


Entered at Spokane, Wash., as Second Class Mail Matter. 
Copyrighted 1901 by Walton & Goodsell. 


HAVE SPOKANE MUSEUM OF MINERALS. 

The management of the Inter-State Fair and Ex¬ 
position of Spokane would contribute in a marked de¬ 
gree to the advancement of the development of the 
Inland Empire by setting apart a large section of 
the Horticulltur'al Halil for the preservation of the 
minerals now on exhibition there, and for the col¬ 
lection of sudi specimens as may from time to time 
be contributed by enterprising owners of good prop¬ 
erties, as well as by the various trade organizations 
of the different mining districts. An exhibit that 
would be a fair indication of the mineral resources 
of the vast mining country tributary to' Spokane 
could then be obtained in a comparativdly short time. 
This division should be given over to the charge of a 
practical mining man, whose duty it would be to' 
collect samples of ore from every camp tributary to 
Spokane, and arrange them so they might be exam¬ 
ined at all reasonable hours of the day under such 
regulations as the management might think best. 

The expense of an enterprise of this kind could 
easily be met in a number of ways, and perhaps the 
simplest would be by a small assessment on each 
company whose ore was exhibited, this need not be 
more than a few cents each, and would doubtless be 
multiplied many times by the more energetic man¬ 
agers who would appreciate the value of the oppor¬ 
tunity offered them. 

WHICH IS WORSE? 

The statement to the press by the General Land 
Office Commissioner Binger Hermann to the effect 
that extensive frauds were being committed by par¬ 
ties obtaining land unler the timber land laws, sug¬ 


gests the idea that there are thousands of final proofs 
that are being accepted every year from' homestead 
claimants, who have as a matter of fact, never made 
their homes upon the land at all. In many of these 
cases, the improvements on the land are absolutely 
worthless, so far as being of any benefit to the land or 
community is concerned. Small tricks and forms of 
deceit and misrepresentation are practiced upon the 
End department without number, and the officers are 
exercised to the utmost limit to discover and prevenc 
them. Their energies are chiefly devoted to the effort 
to prevent parties from obtaining lands for specula¬ 
tive purposes, and it seems to be the prevailing idea 
that speculation usually occurs in cases of cash and 
scrip entries. We do not believe this to* be true but 
on the other hand, know of very many homestead 
cases where fraud and speculation so far outweighs 
the good faith of the transaction that it was absolute¬ 
ly invisible. It is true that the officers of the Land 
Department are not directly to blame for this condi¬ 
tion of affairs, but that they are in an indirect way 
cannot be disputed. The error of these officers en¬ 
ter when they accept flimsy excuse, for absence from 
the land that would not be tolerated in any business 
transaction, and this is especially true in cases of 
contest. The only protection that is afforded the 
Government in the prevention of .frauds of this kind 
is the law giving the successful contestant the prefer¬ 
ence right of entry, for the prosecution of contests 
against entries made by parties who do> not comply 
with the law. The contrast in the practice of the 
Department in its treatment of claims under other 
laws than the homestead law is very great, and the 
public generally has come to know this fact and today 
are making this the broad, easy road to speculation, 
and those who would comply with the law in good 
faith and indeed “make a home of the land to the ex¬ 
clusion of one elsewhere” are deterred from bringing 
notice of these frauds to the Department, by a knowl¬ 
edge that if the entryman should appear at the hear¬ 
ing and offer a paltry and indeed unreasonable ex¬ 
cuse for his failure to' comply with the law, the chanc¬ 
es- are in his favor for keeping the land. 

There is a disgusting sentiment that finds expres¬ 
sion in the sentence “it’s all the poor fellow has,” etc. 
This is not true in one case out of a thousand as it 
variably happens that the fellow who “is not mak¬ 
ing the land his home to' the exclusion of one else¬ 
where,” has other business and other means of sup- 
post, and in fact has his house some other place than 
on the land, and only makes an occasional visit to the 
land for the direct purpose and with the evident in¬ 
tention of evading the law. 






























2 


PUBLIC LAND. 


CURRENT TOPICS. 


A FINE OPPORTUNITY FOR LARGE 
COLONY. 

Independence, California. 

The natural desire on the part of all classes of 
people to as sociate themselves with others of like 
tastes and ambitons in life has been the cause 
for colonization schemes without number, and 
indeed to that idea carried out in either of many 
ways, is due the success achieved in every large and 
progressive enterprise. One man cannot successfully 
conquer nature when met in its most favorable condi¬ 
tions, much less to win sucees from the desert or 
the jungle. In circumstances under which one man 
might eke out a miserable existence, fifty men by a 
union of energies and purposes might achieve the 
highest success, and this is doubly true when the en¬ 
tire body of men are agreed on some common plan of 
action, when it is the purpose of that body of 
men to wring wealth from the coffers of nature. 

There is a compact body of 200,000 acres of fine 
agricultural land in the Indian Valley, in the State of 
California, that is vacant and subject to entry under 
the settlement laws of the United States, which pre¬ 
sents one of the most flattering opportunities for col¬ 
onization work in the United States. This land is 
chiefly in the Northwestern part of Kern and South¬ 
western part of Inyo Counties, and is most easy of 
access from the North by Way of Keeler on the Car- 
son & Colorado Railroad, or from the East and 
South by way of Guard or Bakersfield, on the South¬ 
ern Pacific Railroad. This great body of fertile land 
forms the bottom of a natural basin, of which the 
Slate range and Women’s Peak Mountains are the 
rim. It is level, the soil is of good quality of sandy 
loam, and there is now a fine growth of grass upon 
it, affording excellent range for cattle and other 
stock. 

Well waiter can be obtained at a depth of from 
ten to thirty feet, and there are strong indications in 
many different places that large artesian flows could 
be obtained at a comparatively shallow depth. The 
entire tract can be irrigated from springs, streams 
and storage reservoirs from the Sierra Nevada water 
shed, and the best results could, of course, be ob¬ 
tained from the land by having it irrigated. 

The railroad is now thirty miles from this land, 
but the Southern Pacific’s proposed extensi on will run 
through the whole tract, and what is now a wild 
tract of land without settlers, will doubtless be cov¬ 
ered with productive farms and thriving villages in 
less than five years. 


The best results can be obtained by a large num¬ 
ber of families forming a colony, and taking posses¬ 
sion of this fine body Of land, as it could then be re- 
deernd in a very short while; roads could be graded, 
bridges, churches 'and schools could be built at once, 
and the inconveniences that must always fall the lot 
of the single pioneer would be completely overcome. 

By this method, intending settlers could selec: 
their own neighbors, and by so doing add very much 
to their happiness, and perhaps to their success. 

Register Stanford W. Austin, of the Inde¬ 
pendence, California, Land Office, has made 
a careful and personal examination of the 
magnificent opportunity, and he assures us 
that the facts given above are not over¬ 
drawn, and that a colony of over a hundred families 
can find excellent ho'mes in this valley. In addition 
to the opportunities for over a thousand full claims 
in this basin, there is much fine grazing land in the 
foot hills of the Sierra Nevadas which will afford 
range for thousands of cattle and horses, as well as 
sheep.. In other parts of this district there still re¬ 
mains vacant and unappropriated approximately 12,- 
000,000 acres, and for a large quantity of which Re¬ 
ceiver Frank E. Dens-more will sign receipts during 
the next four months. 


A PLACE FOR STORAGE IRRIGATION, 

There are opportunities for a great number of 
storage systems in Teton county, Montana, by which 
thousands oif acres of excellent agricultural land 
could be brought under cultivation, and made to pro¬ 
duce immense Quantities of vegetables, fruits, grains 
and grasses, This could be done either by building 
dams across the streams in the water shed of the 
Snake Head range mountains or by turning the vari¬ 
ous coulees into’storage basins by throwing up em¬ 
bankments across them at convenient places. 

This land Can be reached from Shelby Junction 
on the Great Northern and Great Falls & Northern 
Railway. Many of the streams are already appro¬ 
priated, but there are some small lakes which can be 
tapped with little expense, and carred to large tracts 
of unappr oprated government land. Operations on 
a large scale by colonies or companies in storing die 
spring snow and rain water in the foot hills of the 
mountains will probably be productive of the best 
results and most substantial success, owing to the 
fact that one man cannot accomplish single-handed, 
the pro-rata results which twenty or more would 
orobably do. However, there are opportunities in 
Teton county for the small operator as well as for 
the colony or stock company. 






PUBLIC LAND. 


3 


MINING. 


A FINE MINERAL DISPLAY. 

One of the most attractive displays at the 
Spokane Inter-State Pair and Exposition, is the min¬ 
eral exhibit from a score or more of some of the lead¬ 
ing districts tributary to Spokane. This department 
is in charge of W. A. Copeland, and his arrangement 
of the ore from the various localities is most satisfac¬ 
tory to the visitors, as they can examine the speci¬ 
mens without interfering with the arrangement in the 
least. This display is conspicuous 'for many reasons, 
and not the least of them is the fact that interested 
persons are not kept at shooting distance from the 
display by the placards, “hands off.” 

, Okanogan county is represented by nearly a ton 
of fine ore frdm the Meyers Crek district. This ore 
was sent down by J. W. McBride, secretary of the 
Board of Trade of Bolster, Washington, which is 
the center of a very ricr gold, copper and galena dis¬ 
trict. One of its neighbors is the Nespdim, a com¬ 
paratively new district on the “south half.” Perhaps 
the most interesting part of this display was a large 
chunk of ore from the Nickel Plate mine, which has 
an assay value of nickel of $58.20, cobalt $21.04 an 'd 
gold $12.40, or a total of $91.64 per ton; however, 
from a smelter test shipment of seven oars from the 
“Tom Hal” mine in the same district, net returns 
for $107.00 per ton, was received for the entire 
shipment over and above the cost of the transporta¬ 
tion and shipment. 

The British Columbia districts are represented 
by ore from the well known mines, many of which 
are steady shippers, and handsome dividend payers, 
and are the cause of much rejoicing on the part of 
their Spokane co-owners. Ymir has ore from the 
Ferno, Queen, Battle Ship Maine, Yankee Girl, Big 
Horn, Pyrite and a scor eof others. 

'Slocan has Fisher Maiden and Kep Cool ore. 
Boundary’s best showing is ore from the Wellington 
Camp. Besides these there are also nice displays 
from the SloCan, Ainsworth, East Kootenai and a 
collection of rich ores from Prince of Wales Island, 
furnished by that prince of miners, Sam Silverman. 

The Idaho exhibit is composed of gold, silver 
and copper ores from Murray, Priest Lake and Buf¬ 
falo Hump districts. 

The finest exhibit of crude oil was from the 
lands in the northeastern part of Wyoming, and sup¬ 
plied by the Continental Oil company of Spokane. 
This company owns 20,000 acres , of the finest oil 


lands in the United States and the product of their 
wells is an almost perfect lubricator without refin¬ 
ing. 

But the chief attraction for the visitors having 
an eye for the beautiful, as well as the precious, in 
the mineral kingdom, is the magnificent display of 
polished marble and onyx from the quarries in Stev¬ 
ens county, Washington. There are five different 
districts represented by as many different companies 
from their respective quarries, i. e., Jefferson Marble 
company, Spokane Marble company, Ernest & Wil¬ 
son, United States Marble company, and the North 
American Marble company, and while these exhibits 
testify to the good management and business enter¬ 
prise of their owners, they speak volumes for the 
possibilities of the State of Washington as a pro¬ 
ducer of the finest marble and onyx in existence. 

The exploration of the properties owned by 
these five companies has demonstrated beyond any 
possibilty of doubt that the extent Of the deposits 
is very large and sufficient in themselves to supply a 
considerable portion of the present large demand 
for material of this kind. Besides these five com¬ 
panies represented at the Fair, there are others oper¬ 
ating in the State of Washington, which have acquir¬ 
ed possession of large tracts of marble and onyx 
lands. 


WASHINGTON COAL AT HONOLULU . 

The purchase of the Sandwich Islands has opened 
up the coal trade in Honolula. Large shipments are 
made there each week from the Puget Sound ports. 

The trade is increasing and it is expected that 
the present demand will be more than doubled the 
next twelve months. New interest is being infused 
into coal mining, and many new locations are being 
made. Several hundred acres have recently been 
covered by coal land applications in Stevens county, 
Washington, and the Washington owners of fine de¬ 
posits in British Columbia near the boundary line 
are getting in readiness for the extensive develope- 
irient of their large holdings. 


KASLO, B. C. 

The directors of the Rambler-Cariboo Company, 
after making a very critical examination of their 
properties, send notice of dividend No. 5 to the share 
holders and with the further announcement that these 
dividends will follow every sixty days, notwithstand¬ 
ing extensive mine developments and purchase of 
equipments. 










4 


PUBLIC LAND. 


NEW OPPORTUNITIES. 


We have received information that the follow¬ 
ing townships have been surveyed in the field, and 
that the township plats will doubtless be filed in the 
local offices during the next few weeks. Parties hav¬ 
ing interests in these different townships can best 
protect their interests by watching the papers pub¬ 
lished in the vicinity of thetr lands. The papers and 
postmasters nearest the land are always furnished 
with notice of the filing of new township plats sev¬ 
eral days bo fore, the date upon which entries are 
allowed to be made. 

UTAH. 

Township 13 South, Range 11 East, Salt Lake 
Meridian, in Carbon county and township 18, South, 
Range 1, East, 16 South, Range 2, East, 16 and 17, 
South Range 1, West and 15, South Range 1 1-2 
West, all in Pete county, and tributary to the Rio 
Grande R. R. 

WASHINGTON. 

Townships 30 and 31, N. of Range 44, E.W.M, 
and township 37 N. of Range 43, E.W.M. (Note: 
Ed.—There townships are West and North of New¬ 
port, Washington, on the Great Northern railroad.) 
The land is timbered, and much of it is valley and 
natural hay land. Sotne of the timber in this locality 
will scale 1,500,000 feet to the quarter section. 

The timber is pine, fir, tamarack, and cedar. 
The land is in the Spbkane Falls, Washington, land 
district. 

Township 34, North of Range 6, E. W. M., and 
also the East half of Township 34, North of Range 
5, E. W. 

MINNESOTA. 

Township 57, N. Range 8; township 61, N. 
of Range 11, W.; townships 65, N. of Ranges 
12, 13, 17, and 18, West; township 

70, N. of Range 23 West; townships 
67 and 69, N. of Range 26, West town¬ 
ships 61, 62, 63, and 64, N. of Range 27, West of 
the 4th Meridian and townships 152 N. of Range 25, 
W.; tawnships 153 and 154 N. of Range 28; town¬ 
ship 162 N. of Range 38, W.; townships 163 and 
164, N. of Range 40 West, and townships 163 and 
164, N. of Range 45, West, 5th, Minnesota Meri¬ 
dian. 

(Note: Ed.—The examiners are now in the 
field, and it is expected that they will have complete 
their labors in time to permit entries to be made of 
the above land this winter.) 

MANY NEW ONES IN NEVEDA. 

Large areas of fertile land on, and tributary to 


the Central Pacific railrOad in Nevada will soon be 
subject to homestead entry. Oliver H. Gallup, Reg¬ 
ister of the Carson City Land Office will file the fol¬ 
lowing township plats in his office and will accept 
homestead applications for land within their boun¬ 
daries, from settlers on or after the date of filing the 
township plats. Those who are not settlers must 
show by specified affidavit that the land is unoccu¬ 
pied and unclaimed in order to be allowed to make 
application within the 90 days from the filing of the 
township plat, on September 28th, 1901. 

Townships 37, 38, 39 and 40, of Range 53 E. 
will be filed. This land is in Independence Valley 
and may be reached from either Carlin, Moleen or 
Elko, and Township 44, Range 57, which can be’ 
reached from Tulasco'. 

On October 18 th, 1901, Township 43, N. 
Range 53 East, Townships 38, 39, 40, 41, and 42 N. 
Range 55 East and Township 42, N. Range 56, E. 

In addition to this large number of townships 
which are already ordered filed, the following town¬ 
ships have already been surveyed in the field, and are 
now in Washington awaiting acceptance. Town¬ 
ship 22 N. Range 18 E. in western Nevada, and 
near the city of Reno>, on the Central Pacific rail¬ 
road, township 19 N. of Range 23 East, near Wads¬ 
worth, also on the Central Pacific railroad, and 
townships 24 and 25, N. Range 24 East, near White 
Plains, and township 33 N. of Range 38 E., near 
Winnemuicca. 

Matthew Kyle, U. S. Surveyor General for 
Nevada, also informs us that there are now com¬ 
pleted and awaiting acceptance for thirty-two town¬ 
ships; Contracts with deputies still in the field for 
sixteen, and bids for surveying thirteen more town¬ 
ships, which are opened August 30, 1901, and are 
now under consideration. Altogther they will open 
up for immigration large and fertile tracts in Ne¬ 
vada, to which I hope to add still greater by future 
surveying contracts. 

ASHLAND, WISCONSIN. ' 

This land district is composed of seven counties 
and has 142,600 acres of vacant unappropriated land 
that varies all the way from “pine barrens” to rich 
agricultural land of clay and loam soils and upon 
much of which there is. still a large quantity of hard 
wood timber. This land is located in the following 
counties, each having approximately the quantity of 
land named: Ashland, 80,800 acres; Bayfield, 40,000 
acres; Burnett, 25,000 acres; Douglas, 50,000 acres, 
Iron, 800 acres; Sawyer, 6,000 acres and Wash¬ 
burn 20,000 acres. 





PUBLIC LAND. 


5 


LAND LAWS AND DECISIONS. 


1/ 


v 


NINETY DAYS FOR FILING. 

Section 3, Act of May 14, 1880, 

That any settler w'ho ha:s settled or w'ho shall 
hereafter settle, on any of the public lands of the 
United tates, whether surveyed or unsurveyed, with 
the intention of claiming the same under the home¬ 
stead laws, shall be allowed the same time to file his 
homestead application and perfect his original entry 
in the United States Land Office as is now allowed 
to settlers under the pre-emption laws to put their 
claims on record, and his right shall relate back to 
the date of the settlement the same as if he settles un¬ 
der the pre-emption laws. 

Approved, May 14, 1880.” 

A BADLY USED LAW. 

This* particular section of law is responsible for 
more contests, and more miscarriages of justice, than 
perhaps any Other land law, owing to the suggestion 
which it offers to settlers to put off doing for an¬ 
other day something that should be attended to at 
once, and the avenue for fraud which it opens to 
parties who are perhaps one of a large number that 
are after an unusually desirable tract of land,-by per¬ 
mitting them to come in after a filing has been made 
for the land and! by false swearing make it appear 
that they had settled on the land prior to the time of 
the filing of the others’ application. More, than one 
case has come to my notice, where two parties exam¬ 
ined the land at the same hour and neither 
intended to make immediate settlement, but one 
learned that the other had started for the Land Office 
to make 'entry, so he made a pretended settlement, 
and within ninety days of the date of the other entry 
came in with his contest, alleging prior settlement 
and was given the land. During the next, ninety 
days there will be a large number of township plats 
filed in the various Land Offices of the United States, 
and the rights of perhaps thousands of settlers will 
be determined by the use whiph they and others make 
of this law. Many thousands of dollars will be saved 
to the claimants if all of those who have settled, on 
these lands prior to survey will offer thei applica¬ 
tions for the land on the day set apart for 
the filing of the township plats. . 

Where the settlement is made m two townships 
and only one is surveyed, the surveyed part of the 
claim should be applied for as soon as the plats are 
filed the application should also-show the full ex¬ 
tent’of the settlement on the parts still unsurveyed 
and marking the extent of the claim on *etawiso 
plainly that any one passing near the land could tell 


where the boundaries were. 

HODGES VS. DANIELS. 

30 L. D., 91 Syl. 

“In the case of a settlement claim that includes 
surveyed and unsurveyed lands, the right of the 
settler to make entry of the surveyed land is only 
■protected for the period of three months from set¬ 
tlement as against intervening adverse claims,’ 


ADDITIONAL HOMESTEAD LAW. 

A11 act to grant'additional rights to homestead 
settlers on public lands within railroad limits in the 
States of Missouri and Arkansas. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE SENATE AND 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ,IN CON¬ 
GRESS ASSEMBLED. That from and after the 
passage of this act the odd sections within the limits 
of any grant of pubic lands to any railroad company 
in the states of Misouri and Arkansas, or to such 
states, respectively, in aid of any railroad where the 
even sections have been granted to- and received by 
any railroad company or by such states respectively, 
in aid of any railroad, shall be open to settlers under 
the homestead laws to the extent that one hundred 
and sixty acres to each settler; and any person w’ho 
has under existing laws taken a homestead or any 
section within the limits of any railroad grant in said 
states, and who, by existing laws shall have been re- 
irtstced to eighty acres, may enter under the home¬ 
stead laws an additional eighty acres adjaining the 
land embraced in his original entry, if such additional 
land be subject to entry; or if such person so select, 
he may surrender his entry to the United States for 
cancellation, and thereupon be entitled to enter lands 
under the homestead laws the same as if the surren¬ 
dered entry had not been made. And any person 
so making additional entry of eighty acres, or new 
entry after the cancellation of his original entry, 
shall be permitted to do so without payment of fees 
or commissons; and the residence of such persons 
upon and cultivation of the land embraced in his or¬ 
iginal entry shall be considered residence and cultiva¬ 
tion for the same length of time upon and of the land 
embraced in his additonal or new entry, and shall be 
deducted from the five years residence and cultivation 
required by law. PROVIDED, That in no case 
shall patents issue upon an additional or new home¬ 
stead entry under this act until the person has actu¬ 
ally and in conformity with the homestead laws, oc¬ 
cupied, resided upon, and cultivated the land em¬ 
braced therein at least one year. 

Approved, July 1, 1879. 






6 


PUBLIC LAND. 


MISCELLANY. 


WE WANT TO KNOW. 

Under this head the publishers will ask a number 
of questions each week, and invite answers to them 
by any of our readers who may be interested in the 
development of their districts. We wish it distinct¬ 
ly understood that the answers must be composed of 
facts, wholly freed from all fiction, and based upon 
the personal knowledge of the person answering 
the question. As an evidence of good faith always 
give full name and postoffice, but not for publication. 

Where there is an unappropriated stream, that 
in the lowest stage of water will develop ioo-horse 
power, by diverting the stream not over one mile 
from place of use. Give name of stream, and if 
possible, statement of exact locality in which it can 
be made to produce that amount of power; amount 
of flow in inches, and fall in that distance. 


The name and address of each person who- has sold 
from his own lake or pond at least $300 worth of fish 
during the past twelve months. State location of 
lake, kind of fish raised, distance from marget, price 
received. Also how long the owner had taken to 
stock the lake, and if the lake or pond was artificial, 
what was the entire approximate cost of getting it 
into its present producing condition. 


The name and address of each -boy, under 16, who 
has earned $300 during the past year by his own en¬ 
ergy and good judgment, from some of the natural 
resources. Salaries or wages will not answer. If 
a crop was raised and sold for the amount, or by the 
judicious investment o-f his own saving in livestock, 
or anything of that kind from which he made a profit 
of $300 or over, or in any manner, made nature pro¬ 
duce him that amount; we want to know him. 


What cases do you know of where a party 
has applied to enter land under the timber land law 
who was not able to Complete final entry of the 
land because he could not raise the money to pay 
for the land on the day set for proof ? State name, 
postoffice and numbers of the land. 


What fractional tracts of less than 160 acres 
do you know of that the land around which has been 
entered for three years or more, that is good agri¬ 


cultural land or has . some special value by reason 
of its location? State full particulars. 

One year’s subscription will be added to the credit 
of any subscriber who furnishes us absolutely cor¬ 
rect answers to any of the above questions. 

DID IT PAY? 

During the calendar year of 1900 several young 
men from the far eastern states, and some from the 
“fatherland,” filed and settled upon land in Lincoln 
and Adams Caunties, Washington. Some only had 
a few cents left after paying the Government filing 
fees of $22.00, but by exchanging work with neigh¬ 
bors and by working for others managed to- get their 
land all broke and sown to wheat last fall, and on 
these same claims the threshers are piling up the 
golden grain at the rate of thirty to forty-five bushels 
to the acre. 

Where is the young man that can go on the stock 
market with $22.00 and his time, and can at the end 
of the year have 160 acres of land all fenced and in 
cultivation, have a house over his head to which the 
landlord does not have the standing right of levying 
tribute, and who has enough money to send for the 
girl he left behind him ? 


LAND DEPARTMENT FOR THE PHILIP¬ 
PINES. 

The Philippine Commission has established a land 
bureau at Manila, patterned after the one af Wash¬ 
ington, D. C., for the adjustment of land claims and 
for the purpose af enabling the citizens of the Phil¬ 
ippine Islands to acquire title to the millions of acres, 
of perhaps, the most productive soil in the world, 
which has either not been appropriated at all or at 
least the claims are so complicated that it is impossi¬ 
ble to tell in whom the title rests. 


LITTLE BRISTLES. 

Today, bids will be opened by Quartermaster 
Ruhlen, located at Seattle, Washington, for 2,000 
tons of oats, which will be shipped at once to Manila. 
The transport Egbert, which is now on Puget Sound 
will be used for that purpose. 


The beet sugar industries of Egypt have attained 
such proportions that she is not only able to supply 
the home demand, but is now a formidable competi¬ 
tor in the Mediterranean markets, against the French 
and Austrian. 















PUBLIC LAND. 


7 


ANSWER'S TO SUBSCRIBERS. 

Under this head complete answers will be given 
to subscribers’ questions concerning the public land 
of the United States. Name and address of each 
subscriber must be given with letter asking the 
question. 

J. P. H., Washington.—I made homestead en¬ 
try and proved upon 80 acres of land in Southwest 
Missouri in the early 70’s, on the St. Louis & San 
Francisco railroad. Was restricted to that amount 
of land. I have been told that I could take another 
80 without residence or cultivation or mprovement, 
is that true ? 

Ans.—No. Your informant did not fully un¬ 
derstand the law, which we print in full on page five. 
Under Land Laws and Decisions. 


O. T. McB., Washington.—Is there any law 
by which townsite settlers on unsurveyed land can ac¬ 
quire any rights to’ the land, by reason of such settle¬ 
ment for townsite purposes? 

Answer.—Yes. The Act of July 1st, 1864, and 
the Act of M'arch 2nd, 1867, will .fully protect such 
settlement. 


L. M. J., Wash.—In order to settle a dispute will 
you kindly inform us how one must proceed in the 
following matter. The survey of the section leaves 
it in the following shape: 



A represents section corner stakes, B quarter sec¬ 
tion stakes east and west, C quarter section stakes 
north and south, D true line from section corners, 
E line as run by survey.' The question is, in divid¬ 
ing the section between four owners, should the line 
from C to C be flagged through, or the center of 
the section determined by measuring one hundred 
and sixty rods from B on a line with B and then 
flagging or chaining from C to such center. Will 
you kindly tell why you recommend either method? 
Ans. The rules established by the interior depart¬ 


ment do not authorize an inside section to be sur¬ 
veyed in that shape, but since it has been done there 
is only one equitable way in which the difficultly can 
be determined, and that is by running the center 
line parallel with the north and south ends of the 
section. In this way all parties will have the full 
amount of land. 


J. L. I., Nevada.—I settled on 160 acres prior to 
survey. My land is in two townships, the township 
plat for the land upon which my house is located will 
be filed in a few 'days. Can I wait until the plat is 
filed for the other township before applying for any 
of the land ? 

Answer.—No. You must file your application 
for the land which is already surveyed, within 90 
days from the filing of die township plat in the lo¬ 
cal office. State in your application that your 
settlement also embraces the certain tracts which are 
unsurveyed, and that it is your purpose to claim them 
by an 'amendment of the entry as soon as the plats 
are filed for such townships. See LAND LAW AND 
DECISIONS on plage 5. 


CAN BE SUCCESSFULLY CONTESTED. 

Charles T. Brown made homestead entry of the 
East half, Northwest quarter and East half, South¬ 
west quarter, of Section 21, Township 35, North of 
Range 2, East Montana Meridian in July, 1899, and 
he has wholly failed to comply with the homestead 
law. 

Clarence E, Reynolds made entry about the same 
time for the South half, Northwest quarter, and 
West half Southwest quarter, of Section four in 
Township tbirtv-five, North of Range two, East 
Montana Meridian, and has also alb'andonel the land. 
(These are good claims and are well worth looking 
up by parties living in the vicnitv of Gold Butte, 
Montana, who are looking for good tracts. This in¬ 
formation has been supplied by a responsible person 
and we do not hesitate to recommend the opportuni¬ 
ties as being good ones.—Ed) 


PERSONALS. 

Hon. Binger Herman, Commissioner of the 
General Land Office is spending Ins vacation in 
Oregon, and visited a number of land offices on the 
way home. 

Duportal D. Sampson has succeeded Nels Auley 
as Receiver of the Ashland, Wisconsin, Land Office. 
The Register’s duties are still performed by August 
Doenitz. 










8 


PUBLIC LAND 


Land Offices and Officers of the United States. 


E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior Department, Washington, D C. 
Binger Hermann, Commissioner General Land Office, Washington, D. C. 


Alabama— 

Huntsville.... 

Montgomery. 

Alaska— 

Rampart. 

Sitka... 

St. Michael. 

Arizona— 

Prescott. 

Tucson. 

Arkansas— 

Camden. 

Dardanelle. 

Harrison.. 

Little Rock. 

California— 

Eureka. 

Independence. 

Los Angeles. 

Marysville. 

Redding. 

Sacraemnto. 

San Francisco ... 

Stockton. 

Susanville. 

Visalia. 

Colorado— 

Akron. 

Del Norte. 

Denver. . . 

Durango. 

Gunnison. 

Glenwood Springs 

Hugo..;. 

Leadville. 

Lamar. 

Montrose. 

Pueblo. 

Sterling. 

Florida— 

Gainesville. 

Idaho— 

Blackfoot. 

Boise. 

Coeur d’Alene- 

Hailey. 

Lewiston. 

Iowa— 

Des Moines. 

Kansas— 

Colby.. 

Dodge City. 

Topeka. 

Wakeeny. 

Louisiana— 

Natchitoches. 

New Orleans. 

Michigan— 

Marquette. 

Minnesota— 

Crookston. 

Duluth. 

Marshall. 

St. Cloud. 

Mississippi— 

Jackson. 

Missouri— 

Boonville. 

Ironton. 

Springfield. 

Montana— 


REGISTER. 

John A. Steele. 

Robert Barker. 

Daniel B. McCann_ 

John W. Dudley. 

Franklin Moses.. 

Fredrick A. Tritle, Jr.. 
Milton R. Moore. 

Charles T. Duke. 

Joseph H. Battenfield.. 
John I. Worthington... 
Harry H. Myers. 

Henry A. Olesten. 

Stafford W. Austin... 
Amarus J. Crookshank. 

Frank W. Johnson_ 

Frank M. Swasey. 

Thomas Fraser. 

Aaron B. Hunt. 

Tohn D. Maxey. 

Thomas S. Roseberry. 
Geo. W. Stewart. 

■Peter Campbell. 

Tames H. Baxter. 

Charles D. Ford. 

vredrick C. Perkins... 

Melvin A Deering. 

T ohn F. Squire. 

T.on E. Foote. 

Wat T. Beall. 

Willia mA. Merrill. 

Tames A. Lavton. 

Tohn R. Gordon. 

David C. Fleming. 

Walter G. Robinson... 

T.erenzo R. Thomas... 

Tames Kins'. 

David H Budlong- 

Meal -T. Sharp. 

Tohn B. West. 

Thornton S. Howard.. 

T-rieber E. Wilcockson. 
Thomas A. Scates. 

rteors-o w Fisher. 

Tsaae T. Purcell. 

t Ernest Breda. 

Walter L. Cohen. 

Thomas Scadden. 

Rvl vaster Peterson.... 

Dmiiam E Culkin_ 

Cvr’us P. Shepard. 

Myron D. Taylor. 

Tames Hill. 

William H. Martin_ 

Georsre Steel. 

Martin V. Gideon. 


RECEIVER. 
Herschel V. Cashin. 
John C. Leftwich. 

Wm. R. Edwards. 
Albert J. Apperson. 
Albert E. Rose. 

John C. Martin. 

John H. Bauman. 

Edward A. Shicker. 
John G. Chitwood. 
Felix S. Baker. 

John E. Bush. 

James F. Thompson. 
Frank E. Densmore. 
Arthur W. Kinney. 
Henry Malloch. 

T/lovd I j. Carter. 
William A. Neweum 
Sargent S. Mortin. 
George A. McKenzie. 
Alfred H. Taylor. 
Othello Scribner. 

George W. Warner. 
Peter F. Barclay. 
Beniamin K Kimberly 
Daniel L. Sheets. 

Miss Martha C. Brown 
Tames W. Boss. 

Tohn P. Dickinson. 
Fred Butler. 

G. Frost Liggett. 

Tohn E. Pelton. 

Tnhn J. Tamhert. 
Charles B. Timberlake 

Henry S. Chubb. 

George B. Rogers. 
Edward E. Garrett. 
Charles D. Warner. 
Wm. A. Hodgman. 
Charles H. Garby. 

Stephen J. Loughran. 

Cyrus Anderson.. 
Lewis J. BeGiiohn. 
Rudolph B. Which. 
Frank W. King 

Charles L Greene. 
Charles P. Johnston. 

John Jones. 

August E. George. 

Tav M. Smith. 
Christopher F. Case. 
Alva Eastman. 

George E. Matthews. 

Herman Schmidt. 

C. Sanford Russell. 
George A. Ramsey. 


Bozeman. 

Helena. 

Kalispell. 

Lewistown. 

Miles City. 

Missoula. 

Nebraska— 

Alliance. 

Broken Bow. 

Lincoln. 

McCook. 

North Platte. 

O’Neill. 

Sidney. 

Valentine. 

Nevada— 

Carson City. 

New Mexico— 

Clayton. 

Las Cruces. 

Roswell. 

Santa Fe. 

North Dakota— 

Bismarck. 

Devil’s Lake. 

Fargo. 

Grand Fonts. 

Minot.. 

Oklahoma— 

Alva. 

*E 1 Reno. 

Enid... 

Guthrie.... 

Kingfisher. 

*Lawton. 

Mangum. 

Oklahoma. 

Perry. 

Woodward. 

Oregon— 

Burns. 

La Grande. 

Lakeview. 

Oregon City. 

Roseburg. 

The Dalles. 

South Dakota— 

Aberdeen. 

Chamberlain. 

Huron .. 

Mitchell. 

Pierre. 

Rapid City. 

Watertown. 

Utah- 

Salt Lake City... 

Washington— 
North Yakima..., 

Olympia. 

Seattle. 

Spokane. 

Vancouver. 

Walla Walla. 

Waterville. 

Wisconsin— 

Ashland. 

Eau Claire. 

Wyoming— 

Buffalo. 

Cheyenne. 

Evanston. 

Douglas. 

Lander. 

Sundance. 


Albert L. Love. 

George D. Greene.. 

Frank H. Nash. 

Edward Brassey... 

Samuel Gordon. 

Elmer E. Hershey. 


Fred M. Dorrington... 

.Tames Whitehead. 

Joseph W. Johnson_ 

Francis M. Rathbun.. 

George E. French. 

Stephen J. Weekes — 

Robley D. Harris. 

James C. Pettijohn — 

Oliver H. Gallup. 


Edward W. Fox. 
Emil Solignac.... 
Howard Leland.. 
Manuel R. Otero. 


Alex. C. McGillivray.. 

Ole Serumgard.,. 

Charles N. A r alentine. 

Ernest H. Kent... 

Thomas E. Olsgard... 

Robert A. Cameron... 


.Tames B. Cullison. 

.Tohn Boles. 

Emory D. Brownlee.. 


.Tohn A. Trotter... 
Sevmour S. Price. 
Alfred H. Roles... 
Frank D. Healy... 


George W. Hayes. 

Edward W. Bartlett..- 

Eldon M. Brattain. 

Charles B. Moores. 

.Toseph T. Bridges. 

Jay P. Lucas. 


Tohn S. Vetter. 

William V. Lucas. 

Charles A. Blake. 

George E. Foster. 

Albert wheel on. 

George P. Bennett- 

Lee Stover..... 


Frank D. Hobbs. 


Walter -T. Reed. 

Frank G. D°ckebach. 
Edward b Tremner.. 
William H. T/Udden.... 
Willie to R Dunbar... 

.Tohn M. Hill. 

Matthew B. Malloy — 


August Doenitz. 

Alfred Cypreansen,... 


Prince A. Gatchell.... 
wniiam F. Chaplin... 

Charles Kingston. 

A ihertD. chamberlain. 

William T. Adams_ 

Alpha E. Hoyt. 

^Officers that have just been established to 
from the Kiowa and Comanche reservations. 


Andrew J. Edsall. 
John Horsky. 

William C. Whipps. 
Louis W. Eldridge. 
James M. Rhoades. 
William O. Ranft. 

William R. Akers. 
Frank H- Young. 
Thomas P. Kennard. 
Joel A. Piper. 

Frank Bacon. 

Richard H. Jenness. 
James L.McIntosh, Jr 
Albert L. Towle. 

David H. Hall. 

Albert W. Thompson. 
Henry D. Bowman. 
David L. Geyer. 
Edward F. Hobart. 

John Satterlund. 
Henrv E. Baird. 
DeWitt C. Tufts. 
Christian L. Lindstrom 
Abner L. Hanscom. 

William J. French. 


David W. Eastman. 
Fredrick E. McKinley. 
Jacob C. Admire. 


John A. Oliphant. 
Anton H. Classen. 

Joel R. Scott. 

John W. Miller. 

Charles Newell. 
Samuel O. Swacknamer 
Harry Bailey. 

William Galloway. 
James H. Booth. 

Otis Patterson. 

Frank A. Brown. 
Charles L. Brockway. 
John Westdahl. 
Thomas C. Burns. 
Henry E. Cutting. 
William S. Warner. 
George W. Case. 

George A. Smith. 

Miles Cannon. 

John O’B. Scobey. 
Columbus T. Tyler. 
Samuel A. Wells. 

Lynn B. Clough. 
Thomas Mosgrove. 
Lucien E. Kellog. 

Du portal G. Sampson 
Alexander Meggett. 

Ephraim H. Smock. 
Edward A. Slack. 
Frank M. Foote. 
Merris C. Barrow. 

Mrs. Minnie Williams. 
aoTYTnpi A. Young. 


Affot* new 0PP° rtun ' tie$ for ^ou ana 
Ullvle your friends. * * « * * 

For a limited time “PUBLIC LAND” will be sent to five 
different addresses when sent in by one person for five dollars. 

Each issue of “PUBLIC LAND” will contain more of value 
to the subscriber interested in public laud matters than the full 
price of the year’s subscription. Some will receive a hundred 
times more. Get your friends to subscribe now. Send all re¬ 
mittances whenever possible by Post Office or Express Money 
rlv, mad e payable to “PUBLIC LAND.” 
ffiiitU-25 AuditoriumBlk. SPOKANE, WASH. 



BROWNINGS. 


It is announced by the Management of the 
Louisiana Purchase Exposition which will be opened 
in St. Louis, May ist, 1903, that one of the features 
of the Exposition will be a specimen of every phase 
and form of human life, barbarous, semibarbarous 
and civilized. Truly the opportunity of his life for 
a Missourian. 























































































































































































































ADVERTISEMENTS. 


john mcdowell, 

united States Commissioner and 
Justice of the Peace. 


Gold Butte, Mont. 


H; S. Swenson, Clyde C. Henion, 

United States Commissioner. Notary Public 

SWENSON & HENION, 

Timber and Agricultural Lands. Homestead 
and timber locations. Agents town site of New¬ 
port. 

Publishers of NEWPORT MINER, $ 1.50 per year. 
NEWPORT, WASHINGTON. 


INLAND PRINTING COMPANY, 

610-612 Sprague Ave. 

Print Anything. Try us with your 
next order. 

It will save you money. 


ATTEND THE 

Puget Sound Business College 

for a practical, up-to-date business course. 
Bookkeeping, penmanship, stenography 
and typewriting. Send ten cents for sam¬ 
ple dozen cards and how you can earn 
some money during spare time. Address 
D. M. KNAUF, Principal, 902 Yakima ave., 
Tacoma, Wash. 

0. W. KENNEDY, 

Livery Stables, 

Gentle Driving Horses. Good Drivers to 
show you the land you want to see. 
Everything first class. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 

DOUGLAS HOTEL, 

William Newlove, Prop., 

AMERICAN PLAN. 

$1.00 and $1.50 Per Day. 

Prompt, Neat, Clean Service. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 

WILSON CHEEK LIVEBY STABLE 
B. J. Armstrong, Prop. 

GOOD HORSES, GOOD RIGS, GOOD 
DRIVERS, FIRST CLASS 
SERVICE. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 

CLAIR HUNT, 

Civil i nee t~ 

U. S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor. 

BOSSBURG, - - WASHINGTON. 


H. S SWENSON, 

United States Commissioner, District of 
Washington. 

Proprietor and Editor THE NEWPORT MINER 
Weekly, $ 1.50 per annum. 

NEWPORT, WASHINGTON 

M. L. SCHERMERH0RN, 
United States Commissioner 


There’s lots ol good Vacant Agricultural Laud 
tributary to 

LIND, . - - WASHINGTON 


WENTWORTH CLOTHING GO. 

Reliable Mens’ and 
Boys’ Outfitters. 

709-11 Riverside Ave. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 


J. W. MeCDNE, 

Farm and City Property For Sale 
or Exchange. 

MONEY TO LOAN. 

7-8 Sherwood Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 

























i 


alton 8c Goodsell, Land Attorneys 



Leave of absence from your Homestead. Applications to 
amend your Homstead and making of all papers pertaining to 
Public Lands. Contests, protests and other bearings before 
any U. S. Land Office. The Commissioner of the General 
Land Office and the Interior Department. Mining Applica¬ 
tions. Military Bounty Land Warrants. Forest Reserve, 
Soldier’s Additional Homestead, and all other Land Scrips 
bought and sold. ’ We can get your tangles straightened with¬ 
out your coming to the office 


Office Rooms 124-25 Auditorium Block, Phone Main 369 

^ SpoU:a.ne, - - 





This will introduce the Northwestern Busi- £ 
ness College to the readers of Public Land. The 4 
purpose of this advertisement is to induce the £ 
public to investigate the merits of the institution, 
for on MERIT we build. 


Its students hold United States records for 
proficiency in Civil Service and Bookkeeping. 

FIVE COURCES OF STUDY. 

Shorthand and Typewriting, Civil Service, Busi¬ 
ness, Normal, and Telegraphy. 

For detailed information call at the office or 
1 send for catalogue. 

E. H. THOMPSON, Principal 

SPOKANE, WASH. ] 
















W£ £0/7f.V7M££/0 ££££0P£ Of f//£ZYfif/0/Y. 



& PVBL15HED 

^ WEEKLY. 


OEVOTED TO THOSE 
INTERESTED IIW 
THE PVBLIC EAtlBS 

THE VniTED STATES 


$1.50 PER YEAR f 
m ADVAHCE. 


'W/y* 


Vol. 1. No. 6. 

Spokane, Wash., Sept. 24, 1901. 

Single Copies, 10 Cents 






CONTENTS. 


Editorial— 

Not so Good. 
Hardly Fair. 


Current Topics— 

Permanent Homes in Alaska 


Mining— 

Dallas, Wyoming Oil Fields. 

Nampa, Idaho. 

Silver and Marble. 

Nespelim, Wash. 


New Opportunities— 

Kingfisher, Oklahoma. 4 

Spokane Falls, Wash., District. 4 


Land Laws and Decisions— 

Leave of Absence Law. 5 

Fourteen Months Residence Re¬ 
quested .5 

Cash Proofs or Free Homesteads. 5 


Miscellany— 

We Want to Know. 6 

Duluth, Minnesota. 6 

A Big Contract for Surveying .. 6 
Over 200,000 Acres in Wyoming 6 

Permanent Homes in Alaska.— 

Continued.. 7 

Answers to Subscribers. 7 

Ymir, B. C. 7 

Land Offices and Officers of the 
United States. 8 


















































ADVERTISEMENTS 


JOSEPH HUDSON SHORT, 

Attorney at Law 
and 

United States Commissioner, 


T. D. HASTIE, 

Attorney at Law, 

U. S. Conrt Commissioner. 


Homestead Filings and Final Proofs. 


VICKSBURG, 


MISSISSIPPI, j OROFINO, 


IDAHO. 


ROLLIN J. REEVES, 


United States Commissioner, 


WILBUR, 


WASHINGTON. 


ALFRED THOMPSON, 
Attorney at Law, Notary Public, 
U. S. Court Commissioner, 

Real Estate, Loans, Abstracts, 


cu MAIN ST., 


OLYMPIA, WASH. 


SIDNEY MOOR HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

In and for District of Washington. 


ORIN H. WOODS, 
Surveyor and U. S. Commissioner. 

Land Filings and Final Proofs. 
Ditches Surveyed and Recorded. 


BASIN, 


WYOMING 


JNO. JAS. GRAVES, 


Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, 
Conveyancer, Real Estate, 


MEYERS FALLS, WASHINGTON. 


FRED’K J. HOAGLAND, 


HOQUIAM, 


WASHINGTON. 


Attorney at Law, 


H. G. LAKE, B. S„ B. S. D., L. L. D., 

Attorney and Counsellor at Law, 
U. S. Commissioner, Notary Public. 

Land Scrip of all kinds. 

School Land selections made. 


JOSEPH, 


OREGON. 


DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. 
District of Washington. 
Office of 

A. R. SWANSON, 
United States Commissioner, 


WILSON CREEK, 


WASHINGTON. 


FRED H. SCOTT, 

U. S. Commissioner, Notary Public. 


Abstracts of Land Entries. Land Entries 
and Final Proofs. Prompt and reliable 
service at moderate prices. 


MADDUX. 


MONTANA 


ODESSA 


WASHINGTON. 


C. H- HOLDEN, 


Attorney at Law. 

Choice timber lands in large or small 
tracts. Timber land cruised and estimates 
given. Government lands located. Fruit 
lands. Raneh land. Grazing land for sale. 
Climate unsurpassed; no cold, no heat, 
lands, raneh land, grazing land for sale, 
no cyclones. Correspondence solicited. 


FLORENCE, OREGON. 


J. W. MARSHALL, 
Attorney at Law. 


Practice in all the Courts. 


207 Auditorium Blk., SPOKANE, WASH. 


HOMES FOR THE HOMESEEKERS 

LANDS FOR THE LANDLESS. 

We have a large list of the choicest 
farming lands in the Big Bend and 
throughout the Inland Empire. Improved 
farms $15 to $20 per acre. This is the sec¬ 
tion that produces 30,000,000 bushels of 
wheat per annum. Fine fruit; no failures; 
ideal climate. Money placed for non-resi¬ 
dents on first mortgages on first class 
land. Trantum & Schoonover, Odessa,Wn. 


J. B. ZIEGLER, 

Notary Public, Real Estate and Fire 
Insurance Agent. 


IMPROVED FARM LANDS, RAW 
LANDS AND TOWN PROPER¬ 
TIES FOR SALE. 


Prices and Terms will be Furnished 
Promptly. 


Office on First Avenue. 


ODESSA, 


WASHINGTON. 



Quickly secured. CUR PEE CUE WHEN PATENT 
OBTAINED. Send model, sketch or photo, with 
description for free report as to patentability. 48-PAGE 
HAND-BOOK FR EE. Contains references and ftill 
information. WRITE FOR COPT OF OUR SPECIAL 
OFFER. It is the most liberal proposition ever made by 
a patent attorney, and EVERT INVENTOR SHOULD 
READ IT before applying for patent. Addresa: 

H.B.WiLLSONACO. 

PATENT 

L« Droit Bldg., WASHSNGTON, D. C. 


Free Homesteads. 


There are over 100 good quarter sections with 
in short distance of the Great Northern Railroad 
that are subject to homostead entry, the same 
kind of land that produced 40 bushels of wheat 
to, the acre this year. We have an accurate 
knowledge of these vacant tracts and will locate 
desirable parties on them at very reasonable 
rates. Gallon 


H. E. STONE, 

With O. VV. Stone Undertaking Co. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON 


See our Clubbing Offer 
on Eighth Page. 

























































PUBLIC LAND. 


i 


£//£//0/7£/7M££ /J 7££//0££ 0££//£///!£m 



PVBLISHED 
^ WEEKLY. 

WALTON 5 GOOOSELL %, 
PUBLISHERS. y 


DEVOTED TO THOSE 
IMTERESTED I n — 
THE PVBLIC LAUDS 
— or — 

THE VniTED STATES 

3 LEO WALTON, EDITOR. 5 


$ 1.50 PER YEAR 
in ADVAnCE. 


SINGLE COPIES 
TEN CENTS. 


Offices 124-125 Auditorium Bldg., Spokane, Wash. 


ADVERTISING RATES ON APPLICATION. 


Entered at Spokane, Wash., as Second Class Mail Matter. 


Copyrighted 1901 by Walton & Goodsell. 


NOT SO GOOD. 

The following letter has just been received from 
Register Frank G. Deckeback of the Olympia, Wash¬ 
ington land office, which is self explanatory, and 
while the opportunities for the homeseekers in the 
Olympic Forest Reserve is not nearly as good as we 
had reason to believe, we gladly publish the state¬ 
ment, that none may be misled. 

“On November 15, 1901, that part of the Olym¬ 
pic Forest Reserve eliminated from said Reserve un¬ 
der Presidential proclamation of July 15* i 9 OI > will 
be open to entry, filing and selection. The land elim¬ 
inated is principally situated in the north part of Che- 
balis and Mason counties, and in the western part of 
Jefferson and Clallam counties, bordering on the Pa¬ 
cific ocean. The greater part of the said land is in¬ 
cluded within surveyed townships, all of which had 
been subject to settlement and entry prior to the es¬ 
tablishment of the Reserve. Therefore much of the 
land apparently eliminated is patented land. As an 
example, we can state that although the order elim¬ 
inating land in this district from the Reserve includ¬ 
ed about a dozen townships, yet the fact is that the to¬ 
tal amount of vacant land remaining in the same will 
not be over 42,000 acres.” 


HARDLY FAIR. 

Many people complain of the present methods 
necessary to obtain title to land under, the Isolated 
Tract Law. It will be remembered that a tract ot 
land in which there is less than a technical quarter 
section, or 160 acres, that has been open to settle¬ 
ment or appropriation for over three years after an 


of the land surrounding it has been applied for or 
otherwise appropriated for over three years, can be 
ordered into market for sale by the commissioner 
of the general land office, after certain rules have 
been complied with. The method necessary to that 
result is: Filing of an application through the reg¬ 
ister of ithe local land district in which the land is 
situated, in which the applicant swears that the land 
is non-mineral, has no valuable or other timber, or 
building stone thereon; no one having color of title 
or claim thereto and showing that the land is chiefly 
valuable for grazing or agricultural purposes. This 
affidavit must be corfoborated by two disinterested 
persons who are acquainted with the land and know 
the statement of the applicant to be true. If the 
records of the local land office show the land sus¬ 
ceptible of being offered under the law, the register 
forwards the application to the Commissioner with 
his recommendation who in due course of his office 
business examines the application and compares it 
with his office records. If he finds no legal bar 
to its allowance and he believes it will be for the 
best interests of the public (the matter is wholly 
within his discretion) he will make an order to the 
register and receiver of the local land office requir¬ 
ing them to notify the applicant that he will be al¬ 
lowed sixty days within which to deposit five dollars 
with the receiver to pay for advertising the notice. 
In this published notice will be named a date (at 
least thirty days later than the first appearance of 
the notice) on which the applicant and any others 
who wish to buy this land must appear at ten o'clock 
in the morning and bid ait least $1.25 per acre for 
the land. The register is the auctioneer and sells 
the land to the highest bidder. The applicant 
through whose energy and outlay of money the land 
was offered must pay more for the land than it is 
supposed to be worth if he gets it at all, for he must 
-bid more per acre than any one else,, besides the 
cost of advertising and the preparation of the appli¬ 
cation. No matter how much the land is sold for 
or who buys the land, no provision is made for the 
return to the applicant of the money he has spent in 
having the land offered under that law. Congress 
can and should remedy this law, which in nearly 
every instance is resorted to only by the settler hav¬ 
ing land adjoining the isolated tract, and by whose 
energy and labor, spent on the adjoining land, has 
doubtless given the isolatd tract its value, at least 
he should be permitted to take the land at the highest 
bid of his competitors. That would give him a pref¬ 
erence right of purchase and would still save to the 
government the full value of the land. 

























PUBLIC LAND. 


CURRENT TOPICS. 


PERMANENT HOMES IN ALASKA. 

Heretofore the only consideration that has been 
given Alaska by the great majority of those who 
have gone or contemplated going there, was how 
they could extract a fortune in gold dust from its 
rich bars in the least possible time and then get back 
to some southern or eastern home to live in comfort 
and ease the remainder of their lives. This has no 
doubt been due to two causes, one was that the pros¬ 
pector had left all that was dear behind him, and the 
other was the supposed fact that the meterological 
conditions of Alaska were wholly unsuited to the per¬ 
manent residence of civilized humanity. Much the 
same ideas controlled the minds of the now famous 
pioneers and miners of ’49, yet to day people flock to 
California, as did the prodigal who returned to his 
father’s home. 

For many years people have been making homes 
in the protected valleys in different parts of the ter¬ 
ritory until to day there are hundreds of as product¬ 
ive farms as can be found in many of the New Eng¬ 
land states, and which are much more profitable, 
owing to the lack of competition and the superior 
market afforded by the rich mines which are scatter¬ 
ed over large areas of country. There are thousands 
of acres of rich agricultural land that is unsurpassed 
by any in the northwest, and while the seasons are 
shorter in the number of months in which agricul¬ 
ture can be carried on, they do have an almost con¬ 
tinuous day for several months, and this absence of a 
night during that season enables vegetation to main¬ 
tain a very rapid growth, which is not retarded 
either by darkness or extremely cold nights which are 
so frequently met with in some of the northern states. 

Those who have lived in Alaska for many years 
say the winters are not more rigorous than the same 
season in some of the thickly settled portions of 
British Columbia and Canada. There are many dist¬ 
ricts where horses, cattle, hogs and sheep are raised 
and handled with large profit, as the summer range 
is practically unlimited, and an abundance of winter 
feed can be raised during the summer. The soil pro¬ 
duces large quantities of vegetables, grains and 
grasses, and as an illustration of the profit in growing 
vegetables in the St. Michael Land District: 

Register Franklin Moses and Receiver Albert E. 
Rose, of that office report the case of one of their 
friends who this year raised several hundred bushels 
of turnips from a small patch of land and sold the 
entire crop for twenty cents per pound. 


There are large quantities of good timber, garden 
and agricultural land on the right bank of the Yukon 
river and in many other of the favored valleys. Gar¬ 
dening is carried on at and near Holy Cross Mission, 
near Skagaway, and a number of other places con¬ 
venient to a good market. Many of those who went 
to Alaska expecting to mine have been surprised at 
the favorable conditions and have turned their atten¬ 
tion to agriculture, and are making more money in 
that way than they could by digging gold, besides ac¬ 
quiring title to land that is becoming more valuable 
each year. There have been no township surveys nor 
any standard lines or bases for townships surveys so 
the land in the more isolated districts is simply held 
by possession, but the Homestead, Timber and Stone 
Coal Land Laws have been extended to' Alaska, be¬ 
sides the opportunities for the use of Soldier’s Addit¬ 
ional Homestead scrip, (which by the way is the on¬ 
ly kind that can now be used there, but this will take 
either surveyed or unsurveyed land.) 

In addition to these laws the Act of March 3rd, 
1891, which was passed especially for the purpose of 
assisting the promotion of -business and agricultural 
interests there, enables the pioneer to Obtain title to 
the lands without much difficulty. He can under this 
law, (and by the use of Soldier’s Additional Home¬ 
stead scrip) have his own survey made and title will 
pass to him without waiting for the regular surveys 
to be run. The next five years will witness marvel¬ 
ous changes in the development of its natural resour¬ 
ces, and large appropriations for the survey of the 
settled portions of Alaska will follow as a necessary 
result, and those who now settle will probably have 
the lands surveyed before they 'have earned the pat¬ 
ents to them by five years continuous residence, culti¬ 
vation and improvement of their settlement claims. 
The chief care the early settler has, should be to see 
that he has carefully and distinctly marked the 
boundaries of his claim, so that a later comer might 
not have'an opportunity of trespassing upon the 
rights he has earned by his prior settlement. 

The Act of March 3, 1889, extended the system of 
public land surveys to Alaska.- This act also carried 
with it a general appropriation of $325,000 for the 
purpose of surveys in the states and territories need¬ 
ing it. Congress authorized the Secretary of the In¬ 
terior to pay as much as twenty-five dollars per linear 
mile for surveys, and re-surveys, and for running 
standard and meander lines in Alaska where the dist¬ 
rict was very rough or where the timber and under¬ 
growth was very dense. 

(Continued on Page Seven.) 







PUBLIC LAND. 


3 


MINING. 


DALLAS, WYOMING OIL FIELDS. 

Wyoming is still coming to the front as an oil pro¬ 
ducer. The latest strike is in the form of a gusher at 
Dallas, ten miles from Lander, Wyoming. The 
flow is estimated at 1,500 barrels per 24 hours. This 
particular well is owned by Dr. J. McLelland Hen¬ 
derson. 

The flow was struck at 700 feet and the column of 
oil stood four feet above the level of the derrick floor 
for twenty-four hours, when it was cased off and dril¬ 
ling was begun on a new well. It was estimated by 
the driller in charge that he was at least twenty-five 
feet from the sand which was reached in one of the 
other three wells near by, the other two getting crev¬ 
ice oil. 2,000 barrels per day is believed to be a low’ 
estimate of these four wells. 

There are strong indications of oil over a very 
large area of the country surrounding these wells, 
and it is confidently believed that Dallas is destined 
to be the center of a great mountain oil field. The 
only drilling that has so far been done is that just de¬ 
scribed by Dr. Henderson, of London, England, 
who is also one of the South African diamond kings. 
He expects to put down five more wells yet this year. 
Other English capitalists are soon to follow and 
another oil boom second only to that of Texas, is now 
what seems to be in store for the Dallas, Wyoming, 
district. Plans for extensive development are al¬ 
ready being laid and which are sure to bring substan¬ 
tial successes, if those interested are only careful to 
make judicious locations for their wells. These oil 
fields are in the Shoshone anticline, which is open on 
top for a distance of twenty-five miles, one-half of 
this is on the Shoshone Indian reservation. Much of 
the land within this oil belt is patented agricultural 
land, but there is still quite a quantity of vacant un¬ 
appropriated Government land. Many placer loca¬ 
tions are being made along the creeks where the oil 
is oozing up through the water. 

Dallas, Wyoming, is in the Lander U. S. Land 
District, about 120 miles north of the Union Pacific 
Railroad, and 120 miles west of Casper, the terminus 
of the Elkhom (a branch of the Northwestern.) 
The nearest railroad point of the Union Pacific is 
Green River and Casper on the Elkhorn railroad. 


NAMPA, IDAHO. 

The Trade Dollar mine near Nampa, Idaho, is 
driving a 13,000 foot tunnel under the Golden Chest 


property. They are now in over one-third of the 
way. The power for working this tunnel is generat¬ 
ed at their plant on the Snake river 39 miles distant, 
and is transmitted to the mine. The plant cost $300, - 
000 and transmits twelve hundred horse power. 


SILVER AND MARBLE. 

The Eagle Mining Company whose properties are 
near Chewelah, in Stevens 'County, Washington, 
have made a very valuable discovery on their seven¬ 
ty-five acre mining claim in the form of a large mar¬ 
ble deposit. The marble is in three different colors, 
white, grey and black, and has been pronounced by 
marble men to be of very fine quality, and while the 
extent of the deposit is not definitely determined, it 
is known to be very large, as they have uncovered it 
on the surface and have run cross cuts into it from 
the 117 foot and 230 foot levels of their silver mine. 

The stockholders can congratulate themselves on 
their good fortune, as they will now have the oppor¬ 
tunity of participating in the profits from this fine 
marble deposit, as well as from their four foot silver 
ledge. There is a good wagon road all the way from 
the mine to Chewelah, three and one-half miles dist¬ 
ant, and which is the nearest railroad point. 


NESPELIM, WASHINGTON. 

The Great Western Mining Company will begin 
shipping ore in a few days from their six foot ledge 
at the Great Western. 

It was supposed that this ledge “pinched” out as 
the ore completely disappeared from the line of work 
and operations at the mine ceased completely, the 
stock went to almost nothing and was bought up by 
parties who believed that a six foot ledge of contin¬ 
uous silver-lead ore of fine gray carbonates which 
has an assay value of 71 ounces of silver and 60 per 
cent lead, could not get away completely. 

The management of the property thus reached the 
hands of Mr. M. L. Pershall, who made a very care¬ 
ful examination of the property and discovered that 
in sinking the shaft the old management had run 
away from the ledge, which is still in place between 
two well defined walls. A large force of men will 
begin work on this valuable property at once, and 
the stock which is now at the low water mark will 
probably reach its level in a few days, as there is 
enough of the ore now on the dump to begin ship¬ 
ment, and this supply will gradually increase as the 
development work progresses. 









4 


PUBLIC LAND. 


NEW OPPORTUNITIES. 


KINGFISHER, OKLAHOMA. 

Register E. D. Brownlee and Receiver J. V. Ad¬ 
mire of the Kingfisher office have furnished us the 
following interesting information concerning the 
opportunities in their land district: 

“There are about one-half million acres of va¬ 
cant land in this District, subject to homestead en¬ 
try. The land has been opened to settlement and 
entry for eight years, and has been used mostly by 
the cattle men. During the past three years the peo¬ 
ple of the Territory have been so prosperous and 
have raised such immense crops, that people are now 
settling up the vacant land and the cattlemen are be¬ 
ing driven to other parts. In the Territory you will 
find people from every State in the Union, well edu¬ 
cated, refined and with the requisite amount o'f push 
and energy to make a success at anything they under¬ 
take. There are about 400,000 people in the Terri¬ 
tory, and of this number 100,000 are school children. 
Our church and school facilities are as good or bet¬ 
ter than almost any state in the United States. The 
industries of the people are chiefly farming and stock 
raising. Crops consist of wheat, cotton, rye, corn, 
oats, barley, millet, sorghum, potatoes, melons, and 
in fact, anything that may be raised south of Dakota 
and north of Texas. 

The climate is mild in winter and hot in summer. 
The summer heat is tempered and most of the days 
made delightful by a steady Gulf breeze. The nights 
are always cool and delightful. There are four or 
five railroads crossing the Territory in different di¬ 
rections. The Santa Fe and Rock Island Railroads, 
running parallel north and south through the central 
part, and the Choctaw, running westward. The 
Frisco railroad runs to Oklahoma City from St. 
Louis, and the Hutchinson and Southern runs from 
the town which bears its name to Blackwell, in Kay 
county. The lands are at various distances from 
these different lines of road, and a person can secure 
lands to his own satisfaction as regards their loca¬ 
tion. Indians are in nearly every part of the Terri¬ 
tory, but they are mostly educated and civilized, and 
perfectly harmless. Many of them are good citizens 
and enterprising farmers and stock raisers.” The 
Territory is not without its drawbacks. In dry years 
the winds are very hot, and do considerable damage 
to the crops if they are not the cause of their total 
destruction. Fortunately in the past few years we 
have not had any droughs tO' speak of.” 

In Kingfisher, Oklahoma District, the land office 


fees and commisions, payable when application is 
made, are as follows: $14.00 for $160 acres; $13.00 
for 120 acres; $7.00 for 80 acres; $6.00 for 40 acres. 

SPOKANE FALLS, WASHINGTON DIS¬ 
TRICT. 

There is a large tract of unsurveyed land in Stev¬ 
ens county, Washington, near the British Columbia 
boundary line, which is now open for settlement. 
Some of the land is heavily covered with fir, tamar¬ 
ack, some cedar and underbrush, but which is good, 
strong black loam, and will make excellent agricultur¬ 
al land after the timber is removed. Much of this 
land has a present value of a thouand dollars per 
quarter section for the timber that is upon it, but un¬ 
der the rulings of the local land office this land can¬ 
not be purchased under the timber and stone law, be¬ 
cause the land will be good for agricultural purposes 
after the timber is removed. The land is in townships 
36 and 37 N. of range 40 E. W. M., and can 
best be reached by taking the Spokane Falls & North¬ 
ern Railroad to Bossburg or Marcus, and then tak¬ 
ing the Hall’s Ferry road on the east side of Kettle 
River to Boyd’s Ferry, four miles above Hall’s Fer¬ 
ry. Eric Hansen, who lives in the immediate vicin¬ 
ity, has volunteered to show intending settlers 
around and give to them any information they may 
need to find the corners of their land, or to get them¬ 
selves located. 

In the vicinity of Marcus and quite near to the 
lands just described, there are many other opportuni¬ 
ties for acquiring good Government land. The set¬ 
tlers already there will do all they can to assist men 
who have families to locate on good land. They 
want to get their school districts better organized 
and the land settled by men who are willing to take 
upon themselves the full duties of American citizen¬ 
ship by building up homes and having families to care 
for. . The opportunities for live men are very good 
in this particular locality at the present time, as the 
Great Northern Railroad is building through there, 
and men who have not sufficient money to get them¬ 
selves well started on their farms can lay up a little 
log cabin for their families and go at once to work 
on the railroad, where it is expected nearly two years’ 
employment may be had. There are many new min¬ 
ing enterprises being opened up every week that call 
for much help, besides that which is needed in the 
ordinary business enterprises. 

A New York company is negotiating for a saw 
mill site at Kettle Falls, and this will open up an out¬ 
let for the timber on the lands near it. 






PUBLIC LAND. 


5 


^ LEAVE OF ABSENCE LAW. 

“Sec. 3. That whenever it shall he made to ap¬ 
pear to the register and receiver of any public land 
office, under such regulations as the Secretary of the 
Interior may prescribe, that any settler upon the pub¬ 
lic domain under existing law is unable, by reason of 
a total or partial destruction or failure of crops, sick¬ 
ness, or other unavoidable casualty, to secure a sup¬ 
port for himself, herself, or those dependent upon 
him or her upon the lands settled upon, then such 
register and receiver may grant to such settler a leave 
of absence from the claim upon- which he or she 
has filed for a period not exceeding one year at any 
one time, and such settler so granted leave of absence 
shall forfeit no rights by reason of such absence: 
Provided, That the time of such actual absence shall 
not be deducted from the adtual residence required by 
, law.” 


FOURTEEN MONTHS’ RESIDENCE RE¬ 


QUIRED. 

Act of June 3, 1896. 

Chapter 312. “An Act relating to commutations 
of homestead entries, and to confirm such entries 
when commutation proofs were received by local 
land officers prematurely. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre¬ 
sentatives of the United States of America in Con¬ 
gress assembled, That whenever it shall appear to 
the Commissioner of the General Land Office that 


an error has heretofore been made by the officers any 
local land office in receiving premature commuta¬ 
tion proofs under the homestead laws, and that there 
was no fraud practiced by the entry man in making- 
such proofs, and final payment has been made and a 
final certificate of entry has been issued the entry- 
man, and there are no adverse claimaints to the land 
described in the certificates of entry whose rights 
originated prior to making such final proofs, and 
that no other reason why the title should not vest in 
the entryman exists, except that the commutation 
was made less than fourteen months from the date of 
the homestead settlement, and that there was at least 
six months’ actual residence in gobd faith by the 
homestead entryman on the land prior to such com¬ 
mutation, such certificates of entry shall be in all 
things confirmed to the entryman, his heirs and legal 
representative, as of the date of such final certificate 
of entry and a patent issue thereon; and the title so 
patented shall inure to the benefit of any grantee or 
transferee in good faith of such entryman subsequent 
to the dates of such final certificate: Provided, That 


this Act shall not apply to commutation and home¬ 
stead entries on which final certificates have been is¬ 
sued, and which have heretofore been canceled when 
the lands made vacant by such caneelaltion have 
been re-entered under the homestead Act. 

Sec. 2. That all commutations of homestead en¬ 
tries shall be allowed after the expiration of fourteen 
months from date of settlement. 

Act March 3, 1891. 

“Sec. 2301. Nothing in this chapter shall be so 
construed as to prevent any person who shall here¬ 
after avail himself of the benefits of section twenty- 
two hundred and eighty-nine from paying the mini¬ 
mum price for the quantity of land so entered at any 
time after the expiration of fourteen calendar months 
from the date of such entry; and obtaining a patent 
therefor, upon making proof of settlement and of res ¬ 
idence and cultivation for such period of fourteen 
months,” and the provisions of this section shall ap¬ 
ply to lands on the ceded portion of the Siox Reserva¬ 
tion by aot approved March 2nd, eighteen hundred 
and eighty-nine, in South Dakota, but shall not re¬ 
lieve said 'settlers from any payments now required 
by law.” 


CASH PROOFS OR FREE HOMESTEADS. 

Act of January 26, 1901. 

“That the provisions of section twenty-three 
hundred and one of the Revised Statutes of the 
United States, as amended, allowing homestead set¬ 
tlers to commute their homestead entries, be, and the 
same hereby are, extended to all homestead settlers 
affected by or entitled to the benefits of the provisions 
of the Act entitled An Act providing for free home¬ 
stead on the public lands for actual and bona fide set¬ 
tlers, and reserving the public lands for that purpose: 
approved the seventeenth day of May, Anno Domini 
nineteen hundred: Provided, however, That in 
commuting such entries the 'entryman shall pay the 
price provided in the law under which original entry 
was made.” « 

The following is a list of such ceded Indian reserv¬ 
ations: Great Sioux, Sisseton and Wahpeton, North 
and South Dakota; Ponca, Nebraska; Chippewa. 
Minnesota; Fort Berthodd, North Dakota; Crow. 
Montana; Coeuer d’Alene, Idaho; 'Sac and Fox and 
Iowa, Absentee Shawnee, Pottawatomie and Chey¬ 
enne and Arapahoe. Cherokee, Pawnee and Tonka- 
wa, Kickapoo lands, Oklahoma; Yankton Sioux. 
South Dakota; Nez Perce, Idaho; Siletz, Oregon; 
Southern Ute, Colorado. 








6 


PUBLIC LAND. 


MISCELLANY. 


WE WANT TO KNOW. 

Under this head the publishers will ask a number 
of questions each week, and invite answers to them 
by any of our readers who may be interested in the 
development of their districts. We wish it distinct¬ 
ly understood that the answers must be composed of 
facts, wholly freed from all fiction, and based upon 
the personal knowledge of the person answering 
the question. As an evidence of good faith always 
give full name and postoffice, but not for publication. 

The name and postoffice address of five families 
who have lived on agricultural land in Alaska for the 
past five years, and who have supported themselves 
wholly from the product of their farms or gardens. 
State also location of their land and the full particu¬ 
lars concerning their method of living and of dispos¬ 
ing of their surplus produce—the distance from the 

place of sale, and the price obtained. 

The name and address of each person' who has 
opened and developed a coal mine in the Territory of 
Alaska. State also the extent of the deposit, the 
character of the coal, the width of the seam and the 
amount of development done. 

The name and address of each prospector who 
has made a valuable mineral discovery during the 
past month. State the name of the claim ; name or 
names and postoffice address of all locators; the loca¬ 
tion of the claim with reference to the creek.or other 
natural monument, the district, county and State, as 
well as the nearest railroad town and the most practi¬ 
cable route of reaching it, as well as its assay value, 
size of the ledge, etc. 

The name and postoffice address of any prospec- 
; tor who 'has di scovered any ledge of platinum during 
the last twelve months. State fulj particulars as to 
assay value, present owners, size of ledge, exact loca¬ 
tion and most direct route to it. 

Where is there a large deposit of limestone? 

State character of deposit, by whom owned and the 
proximity of a fuel supply as well as the general cli- 
catic and soil conditions of the lands in the locality. 

' One year’s subscription will be added to the credit 
of any subscriber who furnishes us absolutely cor¬ 
rect answers to any of the above questions. 


DULUTH, MINNESOTA. 

The banner United States Land Office for home¬ 
stead entries for the current calendar year seems to 
be the one conducted by Register E. Culkin and Re¬ 
ceiver Jay M. Smith at Duluth, Minn. This office 
has an average of over 270 per month, besides near¬ 
ly six hundred timber applications and about 50,0000 
acres applied for by different classes of scrip, making 
a total of nearly half a million acres that has been 
applied for since January 1st, 1901. 

In this District there has been reserved for the 
railroads, State school, State swqrnp, reservoir and 
Indian Reervations approximately 2,800,000 acres, 
but in addition to this there is 3,800,000 acres (sur¬ 
veyed and unsurveyed) susceptible of appropriation 
under the homestead and other general land laws. 


A BIG CONTRACT FOR SURVEYING. 

A. S. Ruth has been awarded the contract for the 
survey of the Quiuiault Indian Reservation in the 
State of Washington, which contains about 250,000 
acres. This reservation is chiefly timber land, al¬ 
though there is undoubtedly a large portion of it that 
can be placed under cultivation with but little ex¬ 
pense. The surveyor’s bond has been forwarded to 
Washington for the approval of the Commissioner 
of the General Land Office, but it will probably be a 
long time before any one excqd the Indians can ac¬ 
quire any right to the land, even by settlement. In 
the meantime the opportunities in other localties 
that are now open should be appropriated by the per¬ 
son who really wants 160 acres for nothing. 


OVER 200,000 ACRES IN WYOMING. 

Alp'heus P. Hanson, U. S. Surveyor General 
for the District of Wyoming, reports the acceptance 
of surveys for five townships in the Southeastern 
corner of Carbon county along the North Platte river 
and its tributaries from the east, ambracing 84,- 
396.26 acres. This land is probably in the Cheyenne 
district, and is easy of access by way of Fort Steele 
on the Union Pacific R, R, 

In the Lander district there has recently been 
six townships accepted, containing 136,159.01 acres. 
This land borders on the Big Sandy river, east of 
Greene River, in the Sweetwater country, and in 
the same land district five townships in Salt and Jdhn 
Grey river valleys in Unita county containing 85,- 
994.50 acres. 











PUBLIC LAND. 


PERMANENT HOMES IN ALASKA— Con¬ 
tinued. 

In the use of this appropriation for surveys, Cong¬ 
ress has provided that the preference must be given 
to townships occupied in whole or in part by actual 
settlers. In addition to this appropriation Congress 
has also authorized the expenditure of $25,000 for 
the continuation of the investigations of gold and 
coal resources of Alaska by the geological survey. 

And while it is impossible to' complete a coal entry 
in Alaska at the present time owing to the fact that 
such entries must be made to conform to- the regular 
surveys (therebeing none there now) it would be ad¬ 
visable for those having interests there to continue 
their operations as the surveys will probably be made 
next year. 

Those interested in the coal deposits of Alaska can 
best serve their own interests by following the oper¬ 
ations of the Division of Geological Surveys which 
has charge of this matter. 

The homestead law differs from that in force in 
the United States in that an entryman is limited to 
eighty acres. It is presumed that this provision was 
made to prevent one person from monopolizing a 
mile of water front. The limit of the claims on nav¬ 
igable bodies of water in Alaska is eighty rods. 
However, those claims which were initiated prior to 
the approved Act-of May 14, 1898, can take the full 
160 acres. 


ANSWERS TO SUBSCRIBERS. 

Under this head complete answers will be given 
to subscribers’ questions concerning the public land 
of the United States. Name and address of each 
subscriber must be given with letter asking the 
question. 

J. D. B., Washington.—I am married and am 
living with my family on my homestead, which I 
filed on two years ago, sickness has overtaken us, 
and it will be absolutely necessary for me to leave 
with my family for a time; will it be necessary for 
me to lose my homestead under these conditions by 
my failure to reside on the land ? 

Answer.—No. The Commissioner of the Gen¬ 
eral Land Office has authority for granting you a 
leave of absence from your homestead for as much 
as one year when there is sufficient cause, and your 
application therefor has the recommendation of the 
local officers through whom it must be offered. See 
Land Laws and Decisions, on page five. 


7 

L. A. McR., Washington.—I have been informed 
that I can make commutation proof on my homestead 
before the expiration of fourteen months from the 
date of entry. I made settlement and established my 
residence during the fifth month from date of entry, 
and have continuously resided thereon with my fam¬ 
ily since that time, and have also cultivated and im¬ 
proved the land in good shape. Others have told me 
that I would be required to live on the land fourteen 
months continuously from the date of my entry. Now 
I want to make proof at the earliest possible, time, 
but also to meet every requirement of the law in 
spirit as well as in letter. Will you kindly inform 
me and my neighbors just what our rights are on 
that point? 

Answer.—The law as it now stand requires four¬ 
teen months continuous residence, cultivation and im¬ 
provement of your homstead claim to enable you to 
come in under the Commuation Act of March 3, 
1891. 

See Land Laws and Decisions, page five. 

J. L. M., Washington.—In the use of Soldiers’ 
Additional Hometead scrip on lands formerly with¬ 
in the limits of an Indian reservation, where the law 
opening the reservation to settlement and entry re¬ 
quired certain payments to the Government for the 
benefit of Indians, and which is now under the pro¬ 
visions of the “free homestead” law, is it necessary to 
pay the price per acre for the benefits of the Indians 
as originally provided in the law opening the reserv¬ 
ation ? 

Answer.—Yes. The instructions of Commis¬ 
sioner Herman to the registers and receivers under 
date of June 5th, 1900, was substantially to the ef¬ 
fect that the “free homestead” law merely had refer¬ 
ence to lands acquired by settlement. 

Neither residence, cultivation or improvement 
are required in obtaining title to Government land 
that is susceptible of entry by the use of 'Soldiers’ Ad¬ 
ditional Homestead scrip, and the user of it under 
the circumstances stated would be required to pay 
the amounts provided for by the laws opening the re- . 
servation, at the time the application was allowed. - 
This issue gives the law in full, with the list of 
reservations coming under its provisions. See Land 
Laws and Decisions on page 5. 


YMIR, B. C. 

The Ymir Mining Company has now distributed 
$192,000 to its shareholders, the last dividend was. 
$48,000. The total for 1901 amounted to $144,000. 









PUBLIC LAND 


$ 


Land Offices and Officers of the United States. 


E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior Department, Washington, D. C. 
Binger Hermann, Commissioner General Land Office, Washington, D. C. 


Alabama— 

Huntsville. 

Montgomery. 

Alaska— 

Rampart. 

Sitka. 

St. Michael. 

Arizona— 

Prescott. 

Tucson. 

Arkansas— 

Camden. 

Dardanelle. 

Harrison. 

Little Rock. 

California— 

Eureka. 

Independence. 

Los Angeles. 

Marysville. 

Redding. 

Sacraemnto. 

San Francisco ... 

Stockton. 

Susanville. 

Visalia. 

Colorado— 

Akron. 

Del Norte. 

Denver. 

Durango. 

Gunnison. 

Glenwood Springs 

Hugo. 

Leadville. 

Lamar. 

Montrose. 

Pueblo. 

Sterliiig. 

Florida— 

Gainesville. 

Idaho— 

Blackfoot. 

Boise. 

Coeur d’Alene.... 

Hailey. 

Lewiston. 

Iowa— 

Des Moines. 

Kansas— 

Colby. 

Dodge City. 

Topeka. 

Wakeeny. 

Louisiana— 

Natchitoches. 

New Orleans. 

Michigan— 

Marquette. 

Minnesota— 

Crookston. 

Duluth. 

Marshall. 

St. Cloud. 

Mississippi— 

Jackson. 

Missouri— 

Boonvllle. 

Ironton. 

Springfield. 

Montana— 


REGISTER. 

John A. Steele. 

Robert Barker. 

Daniel B. McCann_ 

John W. Dudley. 

Franklin Moses. 

Fredrick A. Tritle, Jr.. 
Milton R. Moore. 

Charles T. Duke. 

Joseph H. Battenfield.. 
John I. Worthington... 
Harry H. Myers. 

Henry A. Olesten. 

Stafford W. Austin... 
Angus J. Crookshank. 

Frank W. Johnson_ 

Frank M. Swasey. 

Thomas Fraser. 

Aaron B. Hunt. 

John D. Maxey. 

Thomas 6. Roseberry. 
Geo. W. Stewart. 

Peter Campbell. 

James H. Baxter. 

Charles D. Ford. 

Fredrick C. Perkins... 

Melvin A. Deering. 

John F. Squire. 

Lon E. Foote. 

Wat T. Beall.. 

Willia mA. Merrill. 

James A. Layton. 

John R. Gordon. 

David C. Fleming. 

Walter G. Robinson... 

Lorenzo R. Thomas... 

James King. 

David H. Budlong— 

Neal J. Sharp. 

John B. West. 

Thornton S. Howard.. 

Kleber E. Wilcockson. 

Thomas A. Scates. 

George W. Fisher. 

Isaac T. Purcell. 

J. Ernest Breda. 

Walter L. Cohen. 

Thomas Scadden. 

Sylvester Peterson.... 

William E. Culkin_ 

Cyrus P. Shepard. 

Myron D. Taylor. 

James Hill. 

William H. Martin.... 

George Steel. 

Martin V. Gideon. 


RECEIVER. 
Herschel V. Cashin. 
John C. Leftwich. 

Wm. R. Edwards. 
Albert J. Apperson. 
Albert E. Rose. 

John C. Martin. 

John H. Bauman. 

Edward A. Shicker. 
John G. Chitwood. 
Felix S. Baker. 

John E. Bush. 

James F. Thompson. 
Frank E. Densmore. 
Arthur W. Kinney. 
Henry Malloch. 

Lloyd L. Carter. 
William A. Newcum 
Sargent S. Mortin. 
George A. McKenzie. 
Alfred H. Taylor. 
Othello Scribner. 

George W. Warner. 
Peter F. Barclay. 
Benjamin K Kimberly 
Daniel B. Sheets. 

Miss Martha C. Brown 
James W. Ross. 

John P. Dickinson. 
Fred Butler. 

C. Frost Liggett. 

John E. Pelton. 

John J. Lambert. 
Charles B.Timberlake 

Henry S. Chubb. 

George B. Rogers. 
Edward E. Garrett. 
Charles D. Warner. 
Wm. A. Hodgman. 
Charles H. Garby. 

Stephen J. Loughran. 

Cyrus Anderson. 

Lewis J. Pettijohn. 
Rudolph B. Welch. 
Frank W. King 

Charles J. Greene. 
Charles P. Johnston. 

John Jones. 

August F. George. 

Jay M. Smith. 
Christopher F. Case. 
Alva Eastman. 

George E. Matthews. 

Herman Schmidt. 

C. Sanford Russell. 
George A. Ramsey. 


Albert L. Love. 

George D. Greene. 

Frank H. Nash_ 

Edward Brassey... 

Samuel Gordon. 

Elmer E. Hershey. 


Fred M. Dorrington... 

James Whitehead. 

Joseph W. Johnson_ 

Francis M. Rathbun.. 

George E. French. 

Stephen J. Weekes_ 

Robley D. Harris. 

James C. Pettijohn_ 

Oliver H. Gallup. 


Edward W. Fox. 

Emil Solignac_ 

Howard Leland.. 
Manuel R. Otero. 


Alex. C. McGillivray.. 

Ole Serumgard. 

Charles N. Valentine. 

Ernest H. Kent. 

Thomas E. Olsgard... 

Robert A. Cameron... 


James B. Cullison — 

John Boles. 

Emory D. Brownlee.. 


Bozeman. 

Helena. 

Kalispell. 

Lewistown. 

Miles City. 

Missoula. 

Nebraska— 

Alliance. 

Broken Bow. 

Lincoln. 

McCook. 

North Platte. 

O’Neill. 

Sidney. 

Valentine. 

Nevada— 

Carson City. 

New Mexico— 

Clayton... 

Las Cruces. 

Roswell. 

Santa Fe. 

North Dakota— 

Bismarck. 

Devil’s Lake. 

Fargo. 

Grand Fonts. 

Minot.. 

Oklahoma— 

Alva. 

*E1 Reno. 

Enid. 

Guthrie. 

Kingfisher. 

*Lawton. 

Mangum. 

Oklahoma. 

Perry. 

Woodward. 

Oregon— 

Burns. 

La Grande. 

Lakeview. 

Oregon City. 

Roseburg. 

The Dalles. 

South Dakota— 

Aberdeen. 

Chamberlain. 

Huron. 

Mitchell. 

Pierre. 

Rapid City. 

Watertown. 

Utah- 

Salt Lake City... 

Washington- 
North Yakima.... 

Olympia. 

Seattle. 

Spokane. 

Vancouver. 

Walla Walla. 

Waterville. 

Wisconsin— 

Ashland. 

Eau Claire. 

Wyoming- 

Buff alo.. Prince A. Gatchell 

Cheyenne. William E. Chaplin.. 

Evanston..— Charles Kingston 

Douglas. AlbertD.Chamberlain. 

Lander.. William T. Adams_ 

Sundance. Alpha E. Hoyt 

* Officers that have just been established to 
from the Kiowa and Comanche reservations. 


Andrew J. Edsall. 
John Horsky. 

William C. Whipps. 
Louis W. Eldridge. 
James M. Rhoades. 
William O. Ranft. 

William R. Akers. 
Frank H. Young. 
Thomas P. Kennard. 
Joel A. Piper. 

Frank Bacon. 

Richard H. Jenness. 
James L.McIntosh, Jr 
Albert L. Towle. 

David H. Hall. 

Albert W. Thompson. 
Henry D. Bowman. 
David L. Geyer. 
Edward F. Hobart. 

John Satterlund. 
Henry E. Baird. 
DeWitt C. Tufts. 
Christian L. Lindstrom 
Abner V. Hanscom. 

William J. French. 


John A. Trotter... 
Seymour S. Price. 
Alfred H. Boles... 
Frank D. Healy... 


George W. Hayes.,. 
Edward W. Bartlett... 
Eldon M. Brattain.. 
Charles B. Moores.. 
Joseph T. Bridges... 
Jay P. Lucas. 


John S. Vetter. 

William V. Lucas. 

Charles A. Blake. 

George E. Foster. 

Albert Wheel on. 

George P. Bennett_ 

Lee Stover. 


Frank D. Hobbs. 


Walter J. Reed. 

Frank G. Deckebach. 
Edward P. Tremper.. 
William H. Ludden.... 
William R. Dunbar... 

John M. Hill. 

Matthew B. Malloy_ 


August Doenitz. 

Alfred Cypreansen. 


David W. Eastman: 
Fredrick E. McKinley. 
Jacob C. Admire. 


John A. Oliphant. 
Anton H. Classen. 

Joel R. Scott. 

John W. Miller. 

Charles Newell. 
Samuel O. Swackhamer 
Harry Bailey. 

William Galloway. 
James H. Booth. 

Otis Patterson. 

Frank A. Brown. 
Charles L. Brockway. 
John Westdahl. 
Thomas C. Burns. 
Henry E. Cutting. 
William S. Warner. 
George W. Case. 

George A. Smith. 

Miles Cannon. 

John O’B. Scobey. 
Columbus T. Tyler. 
Samuel A. Wells. 

Lynn B. Clough. 
Thomas Mosgrove. 
Lucien E. Kellog. 

Puportal G. Sampson 
Alexander Meggett. 

Ephraim H. Smock. 
Edward A. Slack. 
Frank M. Foote. 
Merris C. Barrow. 

Mrs. Minnie Williams. 
Samuel A. Young, 
accomodate the business 


g| ub Qff£|* ncw OPtwtuntti** f° r Vou and 

For a limited time “PUBLIC LAND” will be sent to five 
different addresses when sent in by one person for five dollars. 

Each issue of “PUBLIC LAND” will contain more of value 
to the subscriber interested in public land matters than the full 
price of the year’s subscription. Some will receive a hundred 
times more. Get your friends to subscribe now. Send all re¬ 
mittances whenever possible by Post Office or Express Money 
rder, male payable to “PU BLIC LAND.” 
ffice 124-25 AuditoriumBlk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


LITTLE BRISTLES 


Lord Curzon, Governor General of India, has 
553,000 persons on the relief rolls. The corn crop is 
reported as being twenty-five per cent below the av¬ 
erage, and hunger still frowns upon thousands. 

















































































































































































































ADVERTISEMENTS. 


JOHN McDOWELL, 

united States Commissioner and 
Justice of the Peace. 


Gold Butte, Mont. 


H" S. Swenson, Clyde C. Henion, 

United States Commissioner. Notary Public* 

SWENSON & HENION, 

Timber and Agricultural Lands. Homestead 
and timber locations. Agents townsite of New¬ 
port. 

Publishers of NEWPORT MINER, Ji.solper year. 
NEWPORT, WASHINGTON. 


ATTEND THE 

Puget Sound Business College 

for a practical, up-to-date business course. 
Bookkeeping, penmanship, stenography 
and typewriting. Send ten cents for sam¬ 
ple dozen cards and how you can earn 
some money during spare time. Address 
D. M. KNAUF, Principal, 902 Yakima ave., 
Tacoma. Wash. 

0. W. KENNEDY, 

Livery Stables, 

Gentle Driving Horses. Good Drivers to 
show you the land you want to see. 
Everything first class. 

ODESSA. WASHINGTON. 

DOUGLAS HOTEL, 

William Newlove, Prop., 

AMERICAN PLAN. 

$1.00 and $1.50 Per Day. 

Prompt, Neat, Clean Service. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 


WENTWORTH CLOTHING GO. 

Reliable Mens' and 
Boys’ Outfitters. 

709-11 Riverside Ave. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 


J. W. MeCONE, 

Farm and City Property For Sale 
or Exchange. 

MONEY TO LOAN. 

7-8 Sherwood Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


WILSON CREEK LIVERY STABLE 
R. J. Armstrong, Prop. 

GOOD HORSES, GOOD RIGS, GOOD 
DRIVERS, FIRST CLASS 
SERVICE. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 


CLA 

IR HUNT, 

Civil 

B/«gineer 

U. S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor. 

BOSSBURG, - 

- WASHINGTON. 


INLAND PRINTING COMPANY, 

610-612 Sprague Ave. 

Print Anything. Try us with your 
next order. 

It will save you money. 

M. L. SCHERMERH0RN, 
United States Commissioner 


There’s lots of good Vacant Agricultural Land 
tributary to 

LIND, . - - WASHINGTON 



























Walton &®Goodsell, Land Attorneys & 



Leave of absence from your Homestead. Applications to 


amend your Homstead and making of all papers pertaining to 
Public Lands. Contests, protests and other bearings before 
any U. S. Land Office. The Commissioner of the General 
Land Office and the Interior Department. Mining Applica¬ 
tions. Military Bounty Land Warrants. Forest Reserve, 
Soldier’s Additional Homestead, and all other Land Scrips 
bought and sold. We can get your tangles straightened with¬ 


out your coming to the office 


l 



Office Rooms 124-25 Auditorium Block, Phone Main 369 f 

- Spokane, X\^ei^lrairi^to:rT =^ £ 





This will introduce the Northwestern Busi¬ 
ness College to the readers of Public Land. The 
purpose of this advertisement is to induce the 
public to investigate the merits of the institution, 
for on MERIT we build. 


Shorthand and Typewriting, Civil Service, Busi¬ 
ness, Normal, and Telegraphy. 


Its students hold United States records for 
proficiency in Civil Service and Bookkeeping. 


For detailed information call at the office or 
send for catalogue. 


E. H. THOMPSON, 


FIVE COURSES OF STUDY. 


SPOKANE, WASH. 




I 




















$ 1.50 PER YEAR 
IN ADVAHCE. 


DEVOTED TO THOSE 
INTERESTED IfW 
THE PVBUC (.AMDS 
~OF ^ 

THE VfllTED STATES ^ 


. 

Vol. i. No. 7. 


Spokane, Wash., Oct. i, 1901. 


Single Copies, 10 Cents 


CONTENTS 


Editorial— 

Survey the North Half. 1 

We Want a Grazing Land Law; 

Do You?.. 1 

Work, for Time is Passing. 1 

Current Topics— 

A Grazing Land Law.. 2 

Mining— 

Boring for Oil.3 

Wyoming.• • • 3 

Oregon. 3 

Idaho . ... 3 

The Coeur d’Alenes, Idaho.. .. 3 
High Priced Timber. 3 


New Opportunities— 

Fine Water Power in Oregon . . 
The Dardenelle District, Ark. .. 
Coal in Stevens County, Wash . 
Spokane Falls, Wash. District.. 


Land Laws and Decisions— 

Homestead Rights in Alaska— 
Act May 14, 1898. 5 

Miscellany— 

We Want to Know. 6 

The World’s Drilling Record... 6 

Petition. 6 

Answers to Subscribers. 7 

Act May 14, 1898—Continued.. 7 
Land Offices and Officers of the 
United States (corrected) .... 8 


























































ADVERTISEMENTS. 


JOSEPH HUDSON SHORT, 

Attorney at Law 
and 

United States Commissioner, 


VICKSBURG, 


MISSISSIPPI. 


ROLLIN J. REEVES, 


United States Commissioner, 


WILBUR, 


WASHINGTON. 


ALFRED THOMPSON, 
Attorney at Law, Notary Public, 
U. S. Court Commissioner, 

Real Estate, Loans, Abstracts, 


sis MAIN ST., 


OLYMPIA, WASH. 


SIDNEY MOOR HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

In and for District of Washington. 


HOQUIAM, 


WASHINGTON. 


H. G. LAKE, B. S., B. S. D., L. L. D., 

Attorney and Counsellor at Law, 
U. S. Commissioner, Notary Public. 

Land Scrip of all kinds. 

School Land selections made. 


JOSEPH. 


OREGON. 


DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. 
District of Washington. 
Office of 

A. R. SWANSON, 
United States Commissioner, 


WILSON CREEK, 


WASHINGTON. 


FRED H. SCOTT, 

U. S. Commissioner, Notary Public. 


Abstracts of Land Entries. Land Entries 
and Final Proofs. Prompt and reliable 
service at moderate prices. 


MADDUX, 


MONTANA. 


U. 


T. D. HASTIE, 

Attorney at Law, 

S. Court Commissioner. 


Homestead Filings and Final Proofs. 


OROFINO, 


IDAHO. 


ORIN H. WOODS, 
Surveyor and U. S. Commissioner. 


Land Filings and Final Proofs. 
Ditches Surveyed and Recorded. 


BASIN. 


WYOMING. 


JNO. JAS. GRAVES, 


Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, 
Conveyancer, Real Estate, 


MEYERS FALLS, 


WASHINGTON. 


FRED’K J. HOAGLAND, 


Attorney at Law, 


ODESSA, 


WASHINGTON. 


C. H. HOLDEN, 


Attorney at Law. 


Choice timber lands in large or small 
tracts. Timber land cruised and estimates 
given. Government lands located. Fruit 
lands. Ranch land. Grazing land for sale. 
Climate unsurpassed; no cold, no heat, 
lands, ranch land, grazing land for sale, 
no cyclones. Correspondence solicited. 


FLORENCE, OREGON. 


J. W. MARSHALL, 
Attorney at Law. 


Practice In all the Courts. 


207 Auditorium Blk., SPOKANE, WASH. 


HOMES FOR THE HOMESEEKERS 

LANDS FOR THE LANDLESS. 

We have a large list of the choicest 
farming lands in the Big Bend and 
throughout the Inland Empire. Improved 
farms $15 to $20 per acre. This is the sec¬ 
tion that produces 30,000,000 bushels of 
wheat per annum. Fine fruit; no failures; 
Ideal climate. Money placed for non-resi¬ 
dents on first mortgages on first class 
land. Trantum & Schoonover, Odessa,Wn. 


J. B. ZIEGLER, 

Notary Public, Real Estate and Fire 
Insurance Age at. 


IMPROVED FARM LANDS, RAW 
LANDS AND TOWN PROPER¬ 
TIES FOR SALE. 


Prices and Terms will be Furnished 
Promptly. 


ODESSA, 


Office on First Avenue. 

WASHINGTON. 



Quickly secured. OCR TEE DUE WHEN PATENT 
OBTAINED. Send model, sketch or photo, with 
description for free report as to patentability. 48-PAGE 
HAND-BOOK FREE. Contains references and ftiU 
Information. WRITE FOR COPT OF OUR SPECIAL 
OFFER. It is the mo3t liberal proposition ever made by 
a patent attorney, and EVERY INVENTOR SHOULD 
READ IT before applying for patent. Address: 


H.B. 


IUC0. 


PATENT LAWYERS, 

L« Droit Bldg., WASHINGTON, D. C. 




Free Homesteads. 


There are over 100 good quarter sections with 
in short distance of the Great Northern Railroad 
that are subject to homestead entry, the same 
kind of land that produced 40 bushels of wheat 
to the acre this year. We have an accurate 
knowledge of these vacant tracts and will locate 
desirable parties on them at very reasonable 
rates. Call on 


H. E. STONE, 

With O. W. Stone Undertaking Co. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON 



























































THE LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS. 
/^fa-QPiee Received 

o Cr. l 1901 

Copyright entry 
CLASS XXo. No. 
CORY^b 


PUBLIC LAND. 


m/w/f/r/mM /j thfhopf of fhf ha non 



Offices 124-125 Auditorium Bldg., Spokane, Wash. 


ADVERTISING [<ATES ON APPLICATION. 

Entered at Spokane, Wash., as Second Class Mail Matter. 
Copyrighted 1901 by Waltou & Goodsell. 


SUP/VEY THE NORTH HALF. 

One of the most embarrassing' drawbacks that 
the settler on the “north half” of the Colville Indian 
Reservation in the State of Washington has to con¬ 
tend with is the lack of surveys and the consequent 
protection which they afford. There is perhaps 800,• 
000 acres in round numbers that has not been sur¬ 
veyed. Is is impossible for the settler to tell where 
■the boundaries of his claim will be, with reference to 
the surveys. When his entry for the land is made 
ic must be with reference to the surveys, and it will 
probably happen in these cases as it always happened 
before that, some part of the settler’s improvements 
or cultivation must be lost to him, owing to its exten¬ 
sion beyond the limits of the lines of survey. Know¬ 
ing of this possible loss, the settler is kept from 
making the extensive improvements which he would 
if he was absolutely sure of where his line would be. 
The greatest difficulties arise where one settler builds 
his fence where he presumes the lines of his claim 
will come; then another settler takes up the adjoin¬ 
ing land and runs his claim clear to this neighbor’s 
fence. The survey is run' and it never follows the 
fence which they have regarded as the dividing line. 

The settlers of the unsurveyed land can ma¬ 
terially'hasten the surveys by prompt and united ac¬ 
tion in applying for them at once. The United States 
Surveyor General for the District of Washington has 
asked for $35,000 for surveys in this State during 
the current year, and if there is necessity for its use 
an additional sum would doubtless be apportioned 
out of the reserve from the general appropriation for 
surveys. Those settlers on unsurveyed land who 
have not already applied for survey of their town¬ 
ship should do so at once, and any assistance which 


1 


can be rendered by “Public Land” will be cheerfully 
given. 

WE WANT A GRAZING LAND LAW; 

DO YOU? 

“Be it enacted, etc.” 

That every citizen of the United States who has 
not heretofore entered under the non-mineral land 
laws of the United States, or filed upon a quantity 
of non-mineral land, which with the tracts now ap¬ 
plied would make more than 480 acres, shall be en¬ 
titled to purchase a, quarter section of non-mineral 
land that is only valuable for grazing purposes at the 
cash price of $1.25 per acre, under- such rules and 
regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of 
the Interior Department. Provided: 

That not more than one quarter section can be 
sold to any one person, and provided also, that Mili¬ 
tary Bounty Land Warrants shall be accepted in lieu 
of cash in payment for such lands. 

As many as are in favor of this law will please 
send a copy of this issue of “Public Land” to each 
of their representatives in Congress with their en¬ 
dorsement of the suggestion, or if you prefer, fill 
out the balnk on page seven and return it to us with 
the signature of the neighbors who are interested, 
and we will see to it that your Congressional delega¬ 
tion has proper notice of it. 

Congress will convene in a few weeks, and the 
matter must be attended to at once, in order to get it 
through this session of congress, so let us have your 
endorsement by return mail, and besides this, take 
the matter up with your local editor and each of 
your county officers and business men, and have them 
join in petitions with you to your Congressional 
delegation. _ 

WORK, FOR TIME IS~ PASSING. 

Each settler on the north half of the Colville Re¬ 
servation should see to it at once that every man 
with whom he comes in contact knows that each set¬ 
tler on that opened reservation will be required to 
pay $240 before he can complete his final proof for 
the land if the law is not changed, and that lie (the 
settler) wants that law repealed and therefore must 
have the assistance of every precinct, school, dis¬ 
trict, town or county official and business man with¬ 
in his reach. As to the method of bringing about 
the desired result, let every man who feels that lie 
cares at all about this matter to spend five minutes 
each work day as his own good judgment will direct, 
in arousing the interest of those who are not doing 
anything along that line. Let us know what you 
are doing. 





































2 


PUBLIC LAND. 


CURRENT TOPICS. 


A GRAZING LAND LAW. 

Congress has wisely made provision for the dis¬ 
position of nearly every character of public land by 
the passage of a law which is especially applicable to 
it. The one exception is the case of grazing land, 
and there is really no law that is suited to the dispos¬ 
al of that character of land. At the present time the 
only way in which title can be secured to it is under 
the general settlement (Homestead) laws; the Iso¬ 
lated Tract Law or by the location of one or more 
of the different' kinds of scrip. The homestead law 
requires residence, improvement and cultivation. It 
is true that the use of the land for grazing purposes 
meets the requirements of the law as to cultivation, 
but there is no hundred and sixty acre tract of graz¬ 
ing land that will support a man and his family from 
the returns obtained by that use of the land. 

The person therefore, who attempts to acquire 
title in that way is left .to one of 
two alternatives, either to obtain the 
largest part of his support elsewhere dur¬ 
ing the five years he is living upon and earning title 
to the land, or to fail to make his home upon the 
land to the exclusion of one elsewhere, and perjure 
himself on the day of proof taking, by showing that 
he has met the requirement as to residence. 

The Isolated Land Tract law, which was prob¬ 
ably designed to allow this grazing land to be taken 
up, does not meet the requirements at all, for at least 
two reasons; the first is.that there can be no timber 
on the land, and the second is that there must be less 
than a technical “quarter section” in the body, which 
has been subject to homestead entry for. over three 
years AFTER all the land surrounding it has been 
filed upon or otherwise appropriated. In cases where 
there is, say, three forties, and there is no timber or 
building stone on the land, the “Ioslated” law would 
apply three years after the country was all settled up, 
but in the thousands of cases in every public land 
state in the union where there is over a “quarter sec¬ 
tion” of this land in a body, that law fails to cure the 
ill. There is then really but one method of obtain¬ 
ing title to this land, and that is by the use of Sol¬ 
diers’ Additional Homestead scrip, or Forest Re¬ 
serve Lieu Float, or other scrips, and this is not prac¬ 
tical for the reason that the cost to the scrip locator 
is at least twice that of the value of the land, and the 
result is that its use is resorted to only in extreme 
cases where it is necessary to get the land at any rea¬ 


sonable cost in order to hold the key to some trying 
situation, as in the Montana cases, where the small 
cattle men found it necessary to protect themselves 
from the syndicate owners by the purchase of graz¬ 
ing land containing water, and others by fencing 
which they could keep the largs bands away from 
the range occupied by the small herds, There were 
also cases where by the purchase of Government 
grazing land in this way the sheep and cattle ranges 
could be kept separate. Aside from these extreme 
cases the use of scrip on the land is entirely too ex¬ 
pensive and cannot be used on grazing land for that 
reason. 

There are one hundred and eighteen public land 
districts (including Alaska) in the United States in 
which there are perhaps 500,000,000 acres of land 
to which there is no adequate means of acquiring ti¬ 
tle by reason of its being alone valuable for grazing 
purposes. And there is not a single district in this 
large number which does not have much of this kind 
of land. There is an urgent necessity for the passage 
of a law that will enable this land to be purchased 
direct from the Government. A law could easily 
be framed that would prevent speculation, and which 
would at the same time give the citizens of the differ¬ 
ent land districts an opportunity of buying this land 
for what it is really worth. 

The Congress of the United States has always 
been anxious and willing to assist those who were 
trying in good faith to build homes for themselves 
upon the public land, and has never hesitated to give 
relief when it was demanded by any considerable 
number of its constituents.. The one dangerous fea¬ 
ture of passing laws for the benefit of those who were 
making an earnest effort to comply with the law in 
good faith, was the liability of opening up an avenue 
for speculation to those whose only purpose was to 
acquire title to and control of large quantities of Gov¬ 
ernment land. The settlers on the public lands are 
the ones directly interested in this matter, and they 
should thoroughly canvass the situation with all of 
their friends and get their wants before their respect¬ 
ive Congressional delegations at the earliest posi'ble 
date. If all persons who have a direct interest in this 
matter were to .act at once, this bill could be made 
one of the first to be handed to President Roosevelt 
for his signature, and his intimate knowledge of the 
conditions existing in the public land States, and 
the necessity and advisability of the passage of a 
law of this kind, is sufficient guaranty that there 
w r ould be no necessity for fearing his veto. 






PUBLIC LAND. 


3 


MINING. 


There is perhaps no state in the union today 
where the enterprising citizen is not attempting to 
extract oil from the earth. Many of .these attempts 
will.be barren of results, so far as obtaining oil is con¬ 
cerned, but that the large per cent of these punctures 
will produce profit there is no doubt. The exceptions 
will be in those cases where the projectors of some 
scheme originated the idea as the basis fof the or¬ 
ganization of a company whose only purpose is to 
fleece the unwary by the sale of this worthless stock, 
and who make a show of honest effort by the erec¬ 
tion of a boring outfit. Active operations are being 
carried on in the following localities by men of stand¬ 
ing, and if the enterprise does not succeed, it will be 
due to other causes than their lack of sincerity. 

In Washington, near Rosalia, a new well has been 
started by A. G. Hanauer. 

The oil well on the Sarver ranch, 14 miles South 
o f Olympia River, after acquiring a depth of over 
1,100 feet, has been abandoned, owing to a cave, in 
which, their drill was so completely fastened that it 
will be practically impossible to remove it. Work 
will at once be commenced on another well in the 
immediate vicinity, as the stratas found at the 1,100 
foot level are of exactly the same formation as those 
found in the gushers of California. 

The Vancouver Company’s well on Carneac, 
Creek, six miles northwest of St. John, have reached 
a depth of about-1,000 feet. 

The “Hole in the Ground” well near the head of 
Rock Lake in Whitman county is down about 300 
feet. 

Oil has been discovered in a coulee near Espanola 
on the Great Northern, twenty-five miles west of 
Spokane. 

The Ferguson Oil Company of Hoquiam own 
about 30,000 acres on the Hoh river, and have now 
begun operations on these lands, which give much 
promise as oil producers. 

The well on Mill Creek, near Colville, is down 
over 800 feet and still going deeper; the property is 
owned by the Colville Oil Company. 

The Happy Valley, near Fairhaven, is down 
about 600 feet. They have a strong flow of water 
from the well, which carries a generous supply of 
oil. The drillers in charge estimate-that a depth of 
1,500 feet will probably be necessary to reach the oil 
deposits. 

At Grand Mound in Thurston county the drill 


passed through eight feet of coal when at a depth of 
700 feet, and got stuck when down 1040. They are 
now trying to get the drill out, so that operations 
can be resumed. 


WYOMING. 

Newcastle and Dallas are each the centers of very 
promising oil fields. Good flows have been obtained 
in both places. 

OREGON. 

The Ashland well is down 300 feet and the drills 
have now struck sulphur, which is regarded as a good 
oil indication. 

On McKay Creek, ten miles south of Pendleton, 
the Kretzer well is down nearly 500 feet, and has a 
small quantity of both oil and gas; the drilling is 
still going on. The cost to the operators so far has 
been about $4.00 per foot, due, it is said, to extremely 
hard rock. 

Vale, near Baker City, in Malheur county, has a 
big oil excitement on. There are said to be strong 
oil indications, and machinery is being placed on the 
ground for drilling. 

Oil has been found on the Follett ranch in the 
Chehalem hills, west of Newberg, and a strong com¬ 
pany, composed of the representative men of Yam¬ 
hill county, has been organized to thoroughly pros-, 
pect it. 

IDAHO. 

There is considerable excitement reported at 
Troy, as a result of the discoveries of natural gas 
and crude petroleum. The oil was discovered float¬ 
ing on the water in small streams near that town. 

Oil has been found near Nampa, and the vacant 
land has been staked for thirty-five miles along the 
Snake River. 

THE COEUR D’ALENES, IDAHO. 

A rich galena strike is reported from Lake gulch, 
eleven miles north of Wardner, Idaho. This strike is 
in the Wardner belt 

Parties are negotiating with the owners of the 
Hercules mine, near Wallace, on a basis of $1,000,- 
000. 

HIGH PRICED TIMBER. 

In the Federal Court at Spokane, Washington, 
last Thursday, three men pleaded guilty to the charge 
of cutting timber on Government land, The fines 
amounted to $500. 










4 


PUBLIC LAND. 


NEW OPPORTUNITIES. 


FINE WATER POWER IN OREGON. 

One of the finest unappropriated water power 
propositions that has come to our notice is on the 
Rogue River in Southwestern Oregon, .in a very 
promising district, rich in mineral and other natural 
resources. 

This proposition can be utilized at once so that 
'there is no necessity for waiting on the development 
of the surrounding country to make a demand for the 
power that can be generated. 

Perhaps the most favorable location for a power 
and light plant would be about a half mile above Gold 
Hill, where there is a twelve 1 foot fall in the river, 
and at which point it is estimated that there are 200,- 
000 inches of water that is running by unused and 
unappropriated. 

By locating an electric olant at this point, light 
and power could be transmitted seventeen miles west 
to Grant’s Pass, the countv seat of Josephine county, 
which is a thriving little citv of over ^,000; or four¬ 
teen miles southeast to 'Medford, in Jackson .county, 
which has a population of over 2,500; or to Tackson- 
ville, the county seat of Jackson county, five miles 
south of Medford. Jacksonville is the 1 terminus of 
the Rogue River Railroad, and Gold Hill, Grant’s 
Pass and Medford are all on the Southern Pacific 
Railroad, and are in the midst of a fine fruit, grain 
and gold mining district of the Rogue River val¬ 
ley. 


THE DARDANELLE DISTRICT. ARKANSAS. 

A most interesting pamphlet descriptive of the 
resources and public land in Con wav, Franklin, 
Garland, Johnson, Levan, Montgomery, Perry. 
Crawford, Polk, Pope, Saline. Scott. Sebastian and 
Yell counties in the state of Arkansas, has been is¬ 
sued by the enterprising officers of the Dardanelle 
district. In these fourteen counties there are 1,135,- 
000 acres of surveyed vacant public land, subject to 
entry under the homestead laws. In addition to this 
there are nearly half a million acres of railroad and 
state lands for sale. The authors of this pamphlet 
are Joseph H. Battenfield, register, and John G. 
Chitwood, receiver. 


COAL IN STEVENS COUNTY, WASHING¬ 
TON. 

Stevens County is coming to' the front as a coal 
producer. The two most recent discoveries have 


been made in sections 20 and 32 of township 31 N. 
of Range 40 E. W. M., just a few miles from Valley 
on the Spokane Falls & Northern R. R. 

President James J. Hill, of the Great Northern R. 
R. has purchased extensive coal properties of the 
Pacific Coast Company at Ookeville, Washington, 
and is going to increase the output of the mines from 
350. to 1000 tons per day. 

The Great Northern has heretofore found it ne¬ 
cessary to purchase most of the coal used on its en¬ 
gines in Western Washington, from the Northern 
Pacific Company, but will hereafter obtain its west¬ 
ern Washington fuel at Cokeville, and the coal used 
by it in) eastern Washington, Idaho and Montana 
will be obtained from the Crow’s Nest Pass fields, 
but with the development of the Stevens County 
mines this arrangement will no doubt be changed, as 
the Spokane Falls & Northern R. R. is now controll¬ 
ed by the Great Northern, and it will therefore burn 
the most convenient fuel. 


SPOKANE FALLS, WASHINGTON DIS¬ 
TRICT. 

The people living in the vicinity of this land, or 
those looking for a small piece of land for chicken 
raising or small farming, should look it up. Perhaps 
there may be a chance to secure a small piece of good 
land or a piece of pasture land cheap. These tracts 
are all within twenty-five miles of Spokane, and if 
they contain no timber or mineral, may be bought 
for $1.25 per acre, under the Isolated Tract law. 

S. E. 1-4 S. E. 1-4 Sec. 20, S. E. 1-4 S. W. 1-4 
Sec. 2, lots 7-12-11 Sec. 30, N. W. 1-4 N. W. 1-4 
and S. W. 1-4 S. W. 1-4 Sec. 32, Twp. 23 N., Range 
42, E. W. M. 

Lot 1, Sec. 2, Twp. 24 N, Range 40 E. W. M., 
14.15 acres. 

N. E. 1-4 N. E. 1-4 and S. W. 1-4 S. W. 1-4, Sec. 
32, Twp. 22 N., Range 42 E. W. M. 

East half S. E. 1-4 Sec. 30 and Lots 1 and 2, Sec. 
2, Twp. 24 N., Range 41 E. W. M. 

South half N. W. 1-4 and S. W. 1-4 S. E. 1-4 
Sec. 34, Twp. 23 N., Range 41 E. W. M. 

N. W. 1-4 N. E. 1-4 Sec., 14, S. E. 1-4 S. E. 1-4 
Sec. 24, N. E. 1-4 N. W. 1-4 and N.-E. 1-4 N. S . 1-4 
Sec. 30, Twp. 23 N. Range 43 E. W. M. 

S. W. 1-4 S. W. 1-4 Sec. 34, N. W. 1-4 N. W. 1-4 
Sec. 20, east half N. E, 1-4 Sec. 12, east half S. E. 
r~4 Sec. 6 and lots 3 and 4, Sec. 6, Twp. 23 N. 
Range 40 E. W. M. 









PUBLIC LAND. 5 


LAND LAWS AND DECISIONS. 


HOMESTEAD RIGHTS IN ALASKA. 

Act May 14, 1898. 

“Section 1. That the homestead land laws of the 
United States and the rights incident thereto, includ¬ 
ing the right to enter surveyed or unsurveyed lands 
under provisions of law relating to the acquisition 
of title through soldiers’ additional homestead rights, 
are' hereby extended to the District of Alaska, sub ¬ 
ject to such regulations as may be made by the Sec¬ 
retary of the Interior; and no indemnity, deficiency, 
dr lieu lands' pertaining to any land grant whatso¬ 
ever, originating outside of said district of Alaska, 
shall be located within or taken from lands in said 
district: Provided, That no entry shall be allowed 
extending more than eighty rods along the shore of 
any navigable water, and along such shore a space of 
at least eight rods shall be reserved from entry be¬ 
tween all such claims, and that, nothing herein con¬ 
tained shall be so construed as to authorize entries 
to be made, or title to be acquired, to the shore of any 
navigable waters within said District: And is fur¬ 
ther provided, That no homestead shall exceed eighty 
acres in extent.” 

Sec. 10 relates to entries for Trade, Manufacture, 
or other productive industry, in the district of Alas¬ 
ka, and provides: 

“Sec. 10. That any citizen of the United States 
twenty-one years of age, or any association of such 
citizens, or any corporation incorporated under the 
laws of the United States, or of any state or territory 
now authorized by law to hold lands in the Terri¬ 
tories, hereafter in the possession of and occupying 
public lands in the District of Alaska in good faith 
for the purposes of trade, manufacture, or other pro¬ 
ductive industry, may each purchase one claim only, 
not exceeding eighty acres of su'ch land for any one 
person, association or corporation, at two dollars 
and fifty cents per acre, upon submission of proof 
that said area embraces improvements of the claim¬ 
ant and is needed in the persecution of such^trade. 
manufacture, or other productive industry, such tract 
of land not to include mineral or coal lands,. and in¬ 
gress and egress shall be reserved to the public on the 
waters of all streams, whether navigable or other¬ 
wise. Provided, That no entry shall be allowed 
under this Act on lands abuting on navigable water 
of more than eighty rods: Provided further, That 
there shall be reserved by the United States a space at 
eighty rods in width between tracts sold or entered 
under the provisions of this Act on lands abutting on 


any navigable stream, inlet, gulf, bay, or seashore, 
and that the Secretary of the Interior may grant the 
use of such reserved lands, abutting on the water 
front, to any citizen or association of citizens, or to 
any corporation incorporated under the laws of the 
United States or under the laws of any State or Ter¬ 
ritory, for landings and wharves, with the provision 
that the public shall have access to and proper use of 
such wharves and landings, at reasonable rates of 
toll, to be prescribed by said Secretary, and a road¬ 
way sixty feet in width, parallel to the shore line as 
near as may be practicable, shall be reserved for the 
use of the public as a highway: Provided further. 
That in case more than one person, association or 
corporation shall claim the same tract of land, the 
person, association or corporation having the prior 
claim, by reason of actual possession and continued 
occupation in good faith, shall be entitled to purchase 
the same, but where several persons are or may be 
so possessed of parts of the tract applied for, the 
same shall be awarded to them according to their re¬ 
spective interests: Provided further, That all claims 
substantially square in form and lawfully initiated 
prior to January 21st, eighteen hundred and ninety- 
eight, by survey or otherwise, under section's 12 and 
13 of the Act approved March 3rd. eighteen hundred 
and ninety-one (Twenty-sixth . Statutes at.Large... 
chapter five hundred and sixty-one), may be perfect¬ 
ed and patented upon compliance with the provisions 
of said Act. but subject to the requirements and pro¬ 
visions of this Act, except as to area, but in no case 
shall such entry extend along'the water front for 
more than one hundred and sixty rods: And provid¬ 
ed further. That the Secretary of the Interior shall 
reserve for the use of the natives of Alaska suitable 
tracts of land along the water front of any stream, 
inlet, bay, or seashore, 'for landing places for canoes 
and other craft used by such natives: Provided. 
That the Annette. Pribildf Islands, and the islands 
leased or occupied for the propagation of foxes, be 
excepted from the operation of this Act.” 

Section 11 relates to the timber on public lands in 
the district of Alaska, and provides: 

“Sec. 11. That the Secretary of the Interior, un¬ 
der such rules and regulations as he may prescribe, 
may cause to be appraised the timber or any part 
thereof upon public lands in the! district of Alaska, 
and may from time to time sell so much thereof as 
he mav deem proper for not less than the appraised 
value thereof, in such quantities to each purchaser as 
he shall prescribe, to be used in the District of Alaska, 
(Continued, page 7.) 









6 


PUBLIC LAND. 


MISCELLANY. 


WE WANT TO KNOW. 

Under this head the publishers will ask a number 
of questions each week, and invite answers to them 
by any of our readers who mky be interested in the 
development of their districts. We wish it distinct¬ 
ly understood that the answers must be composed of 
facts, wholly freed from all fiction, and based upon 
the personal knowledge of the person answering 
the question. As an evidence of good faith always 
give full name and postoffice, but not for publication. 

Where there is an unappropriated body of gyp¬ 
sum land, or unappropriated body of land surround*- 
ing what is known to be merchantable gypsum. State 
full particulars as to location and means of reaching 
the land, as well as amount of development and use 
that is being made of the appropriated land. 

The full names and post office addresses of all the 
settlers living* in any single township for which no 
application for its survey has been made by the set¬ 
tlers. Give the full name of each claimant and the 
date of his or her settlement; the extent of the im¬ 
provements and if possible the section, township and 
range in which each settler believes himself to be. 
State also whether the claimant intends to take the 
land when surveyed, under the homestead, timber 
and stone, or pre-emption laws. 

One year’s subscription will be added to the credit 
of any subscriber who furnishes us absolutely cor¬ 
rect answers to any of the above questions. 


THE WORLD’S DRILLING RECORD. 

Walter Bradshaw and James Freethv, 
of Butte, Montana, made a new world’s 
record at the Spokane Elks’ Carnical 
lact Thursdav afternoon bv putting down a fiftv-five 
inch hole in solid granite in fifteen minutes. The 
block of granite in which tbev were drilling was onlv 
cp inches thick, so tbev drilled entirelv through this 
and Went down three inches in a new bole with a dub 
starter before time was called at the fifteen minute 
mark. The other teams who participated in this con¬ 
test were W. M. Ross and G. S. Mc.Cleod. of Row¬ 
land. British Columbia, who drilled CT inches: M. M. 
Gumming and C. M. Patterson, of the Coeur 
d’Alenes. Idaho, drilling 4.7 ‘ 3 - 4 . inches, and Tames 
Davev and Henrv Stephens, of Marv^vilL. Mow . 
who drilled 4.6 37 -a2 inches. The Elks had provided 
four prizes, of S^oo. $^oo, $ioo and $=io. and were 
duly awarded the teams in the order mentioned. 


PETITION. 


Congressional Delegation from the State of 


We, the undersigned citizens and residents of the 

State of..do most respectfully 

ask your support of the Grazing Land Bill, suggest¬ 
ed by “Public Land’” in its issue of October ist, 
1901. 

Note.-—Fill in the full names of each of your 
Senators and Congressmen above and attach this 
slip to another piece of paper upon which you must 
get as many full names and exact postoffice ad¬ 
dresses as you can and return the petition to us with¬ 
out delay. 


































PUBLIC LAND. 


7 


(Act 14, 1898, Continued.) 

but not for export therefrom. And such sales shall 
at all times be limited to actual necessities for con¬ 
sumption in the District from year to year, and pay¬ 
ments for such timber shall 'be made to the receiver 
of public moneys of the local land office of the land 
district in which said timber maybe sold, under such 
rules and regulations as the Secretary of the Interior 
may prescribe, and the moneys arising therefrom 
shall be acocunted for by the receiver of such land 
office to the Commissioner of the General Land Of¬ 
fice in a separate account, and shall be converted into 
the Treasury. The Secretary of the Interior may 
permit, under regulations to be prescribed by him, 
the use of timber found upon the public lands in said 
District of Alaska by actual settlers, residents., indi¬ 
vidual miners and prospectors for minerals, for fire¬ 
wood, fencing, building, mining, prospecting, and 
for domestic purposes, as may actually be needed by 
such persons for such purposes.” 

Section 1^ accords mining rights within the dis¬ 
trict to native born citizens of the Dominion of Can¬ 
ada, and provides: 

“Sec. 13. That native bom citizens of the Do¬ 
minion of Canada shall be accorded in said district of 
Alaska the same mining rights and privileges accord¬ 
ed to the citizens of the United States in British Co¬ 
lumbia and the Northwest Territory by the laws of 
the Dominion of Canada or the local laws, rules, and 
regulations; but no greater rights shall be thus ac¬ 
corded than the citizens of the United States or per¬ 
sons who have declared their purpose to become such 
may enjoy in said District of Alaska, and the Secre¬ 
tary of the Interior shall from time to time promul¬ 
gate and enforce rules and regulations to carry this 
provision into effect.” 

“An Act to extend the coal land laws to the Dis- 
trice of Alaska.” 

“Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre¬ 
sentatives of the United States of America in 'Con¬ 
gress assembled, That so much of the public land laws 
of the United States are hereby extended to the Dis¬ 
trict of Alaska as relate to coal lands, namely, sec¬ 
tions twenty-three hundred and forty-seven to twen¬ 
ty-three hundred and fifty-two, inclusive, of the Re¬ 
vised Statutes.” 1 


ANSWERS TO SUBSCRIBERS. 

Under this head complete answers will be given 
to subscribers’ questions concerning the public land 
of the United States. Name and address of each 


subscriber must be- given with letter asking the 
question. 

J. C. C., Kansas.—I filed my homestead right on 
160 acres of grazing land several months ago in or¬ 
der to get control of a large, flowing spring of water 
for the use of my stock; the land is wholly unfit for 
agricultural purposes and I have therefore done no 
cultivation on the land at all. I established my resi¬ 
dence there within the six months, and have continu¬ 
ously resided on the land to the present time; certain 
parties, knowing of my failure to cultivate, and who 
want to get the water, are now arranging to contest 
my entry, so they can get the control of it. Must I 
lose the land for failure to cultivate. 

Answer.—No; your use of the land for grazing 
purposes, together with your bona fide residence 
thereon, meets all the requirements of the law. 

L. P. M., Arizona.—I contested a homestead en¬ 
try, where the party had been making occasional vis¬ 
its to the land for the purpose of holding it. The con¬ 
test was decided in my favor, by the local officers, 
but after the day of hearing and prior to that decis¬ 
ion, the party moved on the land and has lived 
there with his family ever since. Is there any way 
of my getting title to that land without residence on 
it, as I am afraid he will do me bodily injury if I at¬ 
tempt to live on the land ? 

Answer.—Yes. Instead of filing your home¬ 
stead right on the land-when you are allowed the pre¬ 
ference right of entry, purchase Soldiers’ Additional 
scrip from some reliable land attorney and use it on 
the land. This does not require residence, cultivation 
or improvement, but passes title without either. 

J. A. McA., Wyoming.—Q. A.—In making ap¬ 
plication for patent on two or more locations of oil 
claims lying contiguous, must $500 worth of im¬ 
provements be shown on each location, or for the 
whole tract, or sufficient on one claim to equal. $500 
on each claim? 

Q. B.—'Where land is obviously of no value un¬ 
less for oil, must oil be proven on each of a number 
of locations, embraced in one application for patent? 

Ans. A.—It was decided in the Copper Glance 
Lode case reported in 29 L. D., page 542, that work 
upon one of a group of claims will be considered on 
them all, providing that they join, are owned in com¬ 
mon and the work is of such a nature that it would 
redound to the benefit of them all. 

Ans. -B.—The mineral (oil) character of each 
claifti must be shown before patent can issue. Piro 
Oil Company, 16 L. D., 117. 













' 

OCT 7 1901 


8 


PUBLIC LAND. 


Land Offices and Officers of the United States. 

E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior Department, Washington, D. C. 
Binger Hermann, Commissioner General Land Office, Washington, D. C- 


Alabama— 

Huntsville. 

Montgomery. 

Alaska— 

Rampart. 

Sitka. 

St. Michael. 

Arizona— 

Prescott. 

Tucson. 

Arkansas— 

Camden. 

Dardanelle. 

Harrison. 

Little Rock. 

California— 

Eureka. 

Independence. 

Los Angeles. 

Marysville. 

Redding. 

Sacraemnto. 

San Francisco ... 

Stockton. 

Susanville. 

Visalia. 

Colorado— 

Akron. 

Del Norte.. 

Denver. 

Durango. 

Gunnison. 

Glenwood Springs 

Hugo. 

Leadville. 

Lamar. 

Montrose. 

Pueblo. 

Sterling—... 

Florida— 

Gainesville. 

Idaho— 

Blackfoot. 

Boise. 

Coeur d’Alene.... 

Hailey. 

Lewiston... 

Iowa— 

Des Moines........ 

Kansas— 

Colby. 

Dodge City. 

Topeka. 

Wakeeny. 

Louisiana— 

Natchitoches. 

New Orleans. 

Michigan— 

Marquette. 

Minnesota— 

Crookston. 

Duluth. 

Marshall.. 

St. Cloud. 

Mississippi— 

Jackson. 

Missouri— 

Boonville. 

Ironton. 

Springfield. 

Montana— 


REGISTER. 

John A. Steele. 

Robert Barker. 

Daniel B. McCann.... 

John W. Dudley. 

Franklin Moses. 

Fredrick A. Tritle, Jr.. 
Milton R. Moore. 

Charles T. Duke. 

Joseph H. Battenfield.. 
John I. Worthington... 
Harry H. Myers. 

Henry A. Olesten. 

Stafford W. Austin... 
Angus J. Crookshank. 
Frank W. Johnson.... 

Frank M. Swasey. 

Thomas Fraser. 

Aaron B. Hunt. 

Jonn D. Maxey. 

Thomas S. Roseberry. 
Geo. W. Stewart. 

Peter Campbell. 

James H. Baxter. 

Charles D. Ford. 

Fredrick C. Perkins... 

Melvin A. Deering. 

John F. Squire. 

Lon E. Foote. 

Wat T. Beall. 

Willia mA. Merrill. 

James A. Layton. 

John R. Gordon. 

David C. Fleming. 

Walter G. Robinson... 

Lorenzo R. 'Thomas... 

James King. 

David H. Budlong.... 

Neal J. Sharp. 

John B. West. 

Thornton S. Howard.. 

Kleber E. Wilcockson. 

Thomas A. Scates. 

George W. Fisher. 

Isaac T. Purcell. 

J. Ernest Breda. 

Walter L. Cohen. 

Thomas Scadden. 

Sylvester Peterson.... 

William E. Culkin_ 

Cyrus P. Shepard. 

Myron D. Taylor. 

James Hill. 

William H. Martin.... 

George Steel. 

Martin V. Gideon.. 


RECEIVER. 
Herschel V. Cashin. 
John C. Leftwich. 

Wm. R. Edwards. 
Albert J. Apperson. 
Albert E. Rose. 

John C. Martin. 

John H. Bauman. 

Edward A. Shicker. 
John G. Chitwood. 
Felix S. Baker. 

John E. Bush. 

James F. Thompson. 
Frank E. Densmore. 
Arthur W. Kinney. 
Henry Malloch. 

Lloyd L. Carter. 
William A. Newcum 
Sargent S. Mortin. 
George A. McKenzie. 
Alfred H. Taylor. 
Othello Scribner. 

George W. Warner. 
Peter F. Barclay. 
Benjamin K Kimberly 
Daniel L. Sheets. 

Miss Martha C. Brown 
James W. Ross. 

John P. Dickinson. 
Fred Butler. 

C. Frost Liggett. 

John E. Pelton. 

John J. Lambert. 
Charles B. Timberlake 

Henry S. Chubb. 

George B. Rogers. 
Edward E. Garrett. 
Charles D. Warner. 
Wm. A. Hodgman. 
Charles H. Garby. 

Stephen J. Loughran. 

Cyrus Anderson. 

Lewis J. Pettijohn. 
Rudolph B. Welch. 
Frank W. King 

Charles J. Greene. 
Charles P. Johnston. 

John Jones. 

August F. George. 

Jay M. Smith. 
Christopher F. Case. 
Alva Eastman. 

George E. Matthews. 

Herman Schmidt. 

C. Sanford Russell. 
George A. Ramsey. 


Bozeman. 

Helena. 

Kalispell. 

Lewistown. 

Milesi City. 

Missoula. 

Nebraska— 

Alliance.... 

Broken Bow. 

Lincoln. 

McCook. 

North Platte. 

O’Neill. 

Sidney. 

Valentine. 

Nevada— 

Carson City....... 

New Mexico— 

Clayton. 

Las Cruces. 

Roswell. 

Santa Fe.... 

North Dakota— 

Bismarck. 

Devil’s Lake. 

Fargo. 

Grand Fonts. 

Minot.. 

Oklahoma— 

Alva. 

*E 1 Reno. 

Enid. 

Guthrie........ 

Kingfisher. 

♦Lawton. 

Mangum. 

Oklahoma. 

Perry. 

Woodward.. 

Oregon— 

Burns. 

La Grande. 

Lakeview. 

Oregon City. 

Roseburg. 

The Dalles. 

South Dakota— 

Aberdeen. 

Chamberlain. 

Huron. 

Mitchell.. 

Pierre. 

Rapid City 2 . 

Watertown.... 

Utah- 

Salt Lake City... 

Washington— 
North Yakima,... 

Olympia.. 

Seattle. 

Spokane. 

Vancouver. 

Walla Walla. 

Waterville. 

Wisconsin— 

Ashland. 

Eau Claire. 

Wyoming— 

Buffalo. 

Cheyenne. 

Evanston.. 

Douglas.. 

Lander.. 

Sundance. 


Albert L. Love. 

George D. Greene., 

Frank H. Nash_ 

Edward Brassey... 

Samuel Gordon. 

Elmer E. Hershey. 


Fred M. Dorrington... 

James Whitehead.._ 

Joseph W. Johnson_ 

Francis M. Rathbun.. 

George E. French. 

Stephen J. Weekes_ 

Robley D. Harris. 

James C. Pettijohn_ 

Oliver H. Gallup. 


Edward W. Fox. 
Emil Solignac.... 
Howard Leland.. 
Manuel R. Otero. 


Alex. C. McGlllivray.. 

Ole Serumgard.. 

Charles N. Valentine. 

Ernest H. Kent...,_ 

Thomas E. Olsgard... 

Robert A. Cameron. 


James B. Cullison_ 

John Boles. 

Emory D. Brownlee., 


John A. Trotter... 
Seymour S. Price. 
Alfred H. Boles... 
Frank D. Healy... 


George W. Hayes... 
Edward W. Bartlett... 
Eldon M. Brattain.. 
Charles B. Moores.. 
Joseph T. Bridges.., 
Jay P. Lucas. 


John S. Vetter. 

William V. Lucas_ 

Charles A. Blake. 

George E. Foster. 

Albert Wheelon. 

George P. Bennett_ 

Lee Stover.. 


Frank D. Hobbs. 


Walter J. Reed. 

Frank G. Deckebach. 
Edward P. Tremper.. 

William H. Ludden_ 

William R. Dunbar... 

John M. Hill. 

Matthew B. Malloy_ 


August Doenitz. 

Alfred Cypreansen.... 


Prince A. Gatchell_ 

William E. Chaplin... 

Charles Kingston. 

Albert D. Chamberlain. 

William T, Adams_ 

Alpha E. Hoyt. 

* Officers that have just beeii established to 
from the Kiowa and Comanche reservations. 


Andrew J. Edsall. 
John Horsky. 

William C. Whipps. 
Louis W. Eldridge. 
James M. Rhoades. 
William O. Ranft. 

William R. Akers. 
Frank H. Young. 
Thomas P. Kennard. 
Joel A. Piper. 

Frank Bacon. 

Richard H. Jenness. 
James L.McIntosh, Jr 
Albert L. Towle. 

David H. Hall. 

Albert W. Thompson. 
Henry D. Bowman. 
David L. Geyer. 
Edward F. Hobart. 

John Satterlund. 
Henry E. Baird. 
DeWitt C. Tufts. 
Christian L. Lindstrom 
Abner V. Hanscom. 

William J. French. 


David W. Eastman. 
Fredrick E. McKinley. 
Jacob V. Admire. 


John A. Oliphant. 
Anton H. Classen. 

Joel R. Scott. 

John W. Miller. 

Charles Newell. 
Samuel O. Swackhamer 
Harry Bailey. 

William Galloway. 
James H. Booth. 

Otis Patterson. 

Frank A. Brown. 
Charles L. Brockway. 
John Westdahl. 
Thomas C. Burns. 
Henry E. Cutting. 
William S. Warner. 
George W. Case. 

George A. Smith. 

Miles Cannon, 

John O’B. Scobey. 
Columbus T. Tyler. 
Samuel A. Wells. 

Lynn B. Clough. 
Thomas Mosgrove. 
Luclen E. Kellog. 

Duportal G. Sampson 
Alexander Meggett. 

Ephraim H. Smock. 
Edward A. Slack. 
Frank M. Foote. 
Merris C. Barrow. 

Mrs. Minnie Williams. 
Samuel A. Young, 
accomodate the business 


Aff a» new Opportunities for Vou and 
Ullvl* Vour Triends. * * « « « 

For a limited time “PUBLIC LAND” will be sent to live 
different addresses when sent in by one person for five dollars. 

Kach issue of “PUBLIC LAND” will contain more of value 
to the subscriber interested in public land matters than the full 
price of the year’s subscription. Some will receive a hundred 
times more. Get your friends to subscribe now. Send all re¬ 
mittances whenever possible by Post Office or Express Money 
rder, mi le pay ible to “PUBLIC LAND.” 
ffice 121-25 Auditorium Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 



LITTLE BRISTLES 

The settlers living near San Carlos, Arizona, are 
much disturbed over a threatened uprising by the 
Apache Indians, 200 of whom are holding councils 
at and near Fort Thomas, discussing their alleged 
grievances and otherwise preparing for what seems 
to be intended for a raid on the white. It is reported 
that there are half a dozen men at the nearest fort, 
and which is sixty miles away. 
















































































































































































































ADVERTISEMENTS. 


JOHN MCDOWELL, 

united States Commissioner and 
Justice of the Peace. 


Gold Butte, Mont. 


S. Swenson, Clyde C. Henion, 

United States Commissioner. Notary Public 

SWENSON & HENION, 

Timber and Agricultural bands. Homestead 
and timber locations. Agents townsite of New¬ 
port. 

Publishers of NEWPORT MINER, Ji.so'per year. 
NEWPORT, WASHINGTON. 


CDMMING BROS. & POWELL, 
Choiee Timber and Homestead Loca¬ 
tions on Government Land. 

TIMBER CRUISED AND ESTIMATES GIVEN 

Fruit, grazing and ranch lands and pine and 
cedar timber for sale. 

«01>4 Riverside Ave. SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


ATTEND THE 

Puget Sound Business College 

for a practical, up-to-date business course. 
Bookkeeping, penmanship, stenography 
and typewriting. Send ten cents for sam¬ 
ple dozen cards and how you can earn 
some money during spare time. Address 
D. M. KNAUF, Principal, 902 Yakima ave., 
Tacoma, Wash. 

0. W. KENNEDY, 

Livery Stables, 

Gentle Driving Horses. Good Drivers to 
show you the land you want to see. 
Everything first class. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 

DOUGLAS HOTEL, 

William Newlove, Prop., 

AMERICAN PLAN. 

$1.00 and $1.50 Per Day. 

Prompt, Neat, Clean Service. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 


WENTWORTH CLOTHING GO. 

Reliable Mens’ and 
Boys’ Outfitters. 

709-11 Riverside Ave. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 


J. W. MeCUNE, 

Farm and City Property For Sale 
or Exchange. 

MONEY TO LOAN. 

7-8 Sherwood Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


WILSON CREEK LIVERY STABLE 
R. J. Armstrong, Prop. 

GOOD HORSES, GOOD RIGS, GOOD 
DRIVERS, FIRST CLASS 
SERVICE. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 


CLA 

IR HUNT, 

Civil 

Engineer 

U. S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor. 

BOSSBURG, - 

- WASHINGTON. 


INLAND PRINTING COMPANY, 


610-612 Sprague Ave. 

Print Anything. Try us with your 
next order. 

It will save you money. 

M. L. SCHERMERH0RN, 
United States Commissioner 


There’s lots of good Vacant Agricultural Land 
tributary to 

LIND, . - - WASHINGTON 





























1 


Walton & Goodsell, Land Attorneys 


Leave of absence from your Homestead. Applications to 
amend your Homstead and making of all papers pertaining to 
Public Lands. Contests, protests and other bearings before 
any U. S. Land Office. The Commissioner of the General 
Land Office and the Interior Department. Mining Applica¬ 
tions. Military Bounty Land Warrants. Forest Reserve, 
Soldier’s Additional Homestead, and all other Land Scrips 
bought and sold. We can get your tangles straightened with¬ 
out your coming to the office 


Office Rooms 124-25 Auditorium Block, Phone Main 369 f 

Spokane, ^ £ 




This will introduce the Northwestern Busi- & 
ness College to the readers of Public Land. The & 
purpose of this advertisement is to induce the 9 
public to investigate the merits of the institution, ? 
for on MERIT we build. ? 

Its students hold United States records for 
proficiency in Civil Service and Bookkeeping. 

FIVE COURSES OF STUDY. 

Shorthand and Typewriting, Civil Service, Busi¬ 
ness, Normal, and Telegraphy. 

For detailed information call at the office or ? 


send for catalogue. 


E. H. THOMPSON, Principal 

SPOKANE, WASH. 


















V7M££/5 £//££/0P£ 0££P£/y/l£m 



ft PVBLI5HED' 

° WEEKLY. 


DEVOTEE) TO THOSE 
INTERESTED IN — 

THE PVBLIC LANDS 
— OF — 

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$1.50 PER YEAR 
m ADVAnCE. ^ 


Vol. 


No. 8. 


Spokane, Wash., Oct. 8, 1901. 


Single Copies, 10 Cents 


I CONTENTS. 

Editorial— 

Lakeview, Ore., Land District.. 4 

Indian Department Opposed.... 1 

A Busy Office. 4 

The Grazing Land Law. 1 



Land Laws and Decisions— 

Current Topics— 

Cash Proofs on Homesteads. ... 5 

About the Spokane Indian Re¬ 

Commutation of Homestead— 

servation . 2 

Act of June 3, 1896. 5 

Devils Lake Indian Reservation 2 



Miscellany— 

Mining— 

We Want to Know. 6 


Petition. 6 

Mining on Forest Reservations. 3 

Land Laws and Decisions— 

Coal and Iron in the Cascades .. 3 

Continued ...... v . 7 

Nome, Alaska. . 3 

Answers to Subscribers. 7 


Personals... 7 

New Opportunities— 

California. 7 

Kalispell, Montana. 4 

Land Offices and Officers of the 

New Townships in Oregon. 4 

United States (corrected).... 8 











































ADVERTISEMENTS 


JOSEPH HUDSON SHORT, 

Attorney at Law 
and 

United States Commissioner, 


VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI. 

ROLLIN J. REEVES, 


United States Commissioner, 


WILBUR, WASHINGTON. 

ALFRED THOMPSON, 
Attorney at Law, Notary Public, 
U. S. Court Commissioner, 

Real Estate, Loans, Abstracts, 

SIS MAIN ST., OLYMPIA, WASH. 

SIDNEY MOOR HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

In and for District of Washington. 


HOQUIAM, WASHINGTON. 

H. G. LAKE, B. S., B. S. D., L. L. D., 

Attorney and Counsellor at Law, 
U. S. Commissioner, Notary Public. 

Land Scrip of all kinds. 

School Land selections made. 

JOSEPH, OREGON. 

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. 
District of Washington. 

Office of 

A. R. SWANSON, 

United States Commissioner, 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 

CUMMING BROS. & POWELL, 
Choice Timber and Homestead Loca¬ 
tions on Government Land. 

TIMBER CRUISED AND ESTIMATES GIVEN 

Fruit, grazing and ranch lands and pine and 
cedar timber for sale. 

80154 Riverside Ave. SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


T. D. HASTIE, 

Attorney at Law, 

U. S. Court Commissioner. 

Homestead Filings and Final Proofs. 
OROFINO, IDAHO. 

ORIN H. WOODS, 
Surveyor and U. S. Commissioner. 

Land Filings and Final Proofs. 
Ditches Surveyed and Recorded. 

BASIN, WYOMING. 

JNO. JAS. GRAVES, 

Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, 
Conveyancer, Real Estate, 

MEYERS FALLS, WASHINGTON. 

FRED’K J. HOAGLAND, 


Attorney at Law, 


ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 

C. H- HOLDEN, 

Attorney at Law. 

Choice timber lands in large or small 
tracts. Timber land cruised and estimates 
given. Government lands located. Fruit 
lands. Ranch land. Grazing land for sale. 
Climate unsurpassed; no cold, no heat, 
lands, ranch land, grazing land for sale, 
no cyclones. Correspondence solicited. 

FLORENCE, OREGON. 

J. W. MARSHALL, 
Attorney at Law. 

Practice In all the Courts. 

207 Auditorium Blk., SPOKANE, WASH 


HOMES FOR THE HOMESEEKERS 

LANDS FOR THE LANDLESS. 

We have a large list of the choicest 
farming lands in the Big Bend and 
throughout the Inland Empire. Improved 
farms 215 to $20 per acre. This is the sec¬ 
tion that produces 30,000,000 bushels of 
wheat per annum. Fine fruit; no failures; 
ideal climate. Money placed for non-resi¬ 
dents on first mortgages on first class 
land. Trantum & Schoonover, Odessa,Wn. 


J. B. ZIEGLER, 

Notary Public, Real Estate and Fire 
Insurance Age at. 


IMPROVED FARM LANDS, RAW 
LANDS AND TOWN PROPER¬ 
TIES FOR SALE. 


Prices and Terms will be Furnished 
Promptly. 


Office on First Avenue. 


ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 



Quickly secured. OUR FEE DUE WEEN PATENT 
OBTAINED. Send model, sketch or photo, with 
description forfree report as to patentability. 48 -PAGE 
HAND-BOOK FREE. Contains references and full 
information. WRITE FOR COPY OF OUR SPECIAL 
OFFER. Itisthemostliberal proposition ever made by 
a patent attorney, and F.VERY INVENTOR SHOULD 
READ IT before applying for patent. Address; 

H.B.WILLSOMCO. 


PATENT LAWYERS, 

L* Droit Bldg., WAS H S N GTO N, D. C. 



Free Homesteads. 


There are over 100 good quarter sections with 
in short distance of the Great Northern Railroad 
that are subject to homestead entry, the same 
kind of land that produced 40 bushels of wheat 
to the acre this year. We have an accurate 
knowledge of these vacant tracts and will locate 
desirable parties on them at very reasonable 
rates. Call on 


H. E. STONE, 

With O. W. Stone Undertaking Co. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON 


S See our Clubbing Offer |; 

on Eighth Page. 
n»wmmmta8tt8« t «tt«nt:«m»mra t 




















































THE LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS, 

One Cory Receive* 

OCT. 14 1901 

COEYRIQHT ENTRY 


CLASS XXC. No, 
cory] 




PUBLIC LAND. 


T//£//OZ7£Z7M£/?/51//£MOP£ Of£//£///!f/Oft 



Offices 124-125 Auditorium Bldg., Spokane, Wash. 

ADVERTISING RATES ON APPLICATION. 

Entered at Spokane, Wash., as Second Class Mail Matter. 

Copyrighted 1901 by Walton & Goodsell. 


INDIAN DEPARTMENT OPPOSED. 

Congressman Francis W. Cushman of the State of 
Washington has taken up the matter of opening the 
Spokane Indian Reservation to mineral exploration 
with the Department of Indian Affairs at Washing¬ 
ton, D. C., and from the letter which we publish on 
the following page, it will be observed that the De¬ 
partment is opposed to disturbing the Indians by 
permitting the fnineral appropriation of the land. 

This decision on the part of the Indian Department 
is not strange; indeed it is in keeping with the estab¬ 
lished custom of that branch of the Department to 
throw every obstacle in the way of the white man 
in his efforts to obtain possession of any land that has 
ever been set aside for the use of an Indian Tribe. 
The same opposition was encountered in opening 
the South Half of the Colville reservation to mineral 
exploration, yet Congress passed the law in the face 
of -this opposition, and as a result millions in wealth 
have been taken by the energetic citizens, from the 
mines within its borders, and the Indian has been 
helped in many different ways which -could not have 
been opened to him while the white man was forbid¬ 
den entrance to the reservation, and injured in no 
way. By opening the North Half, first to mineral 
exploration (after each Indian had been given his 
allotment for himself down to the smallest member 
of the family), then to the settlement of the white 
man, the Indian has been lifted from an atmosphere 
of barbarism to one of enlightenment and refinement. 
He now has the privilege of contact with men and 
women of education, character and training, and 
what it would have taken the Indian Department 
three generations to drill into the wards which they 
are civilizing, has now been accomplished in a few 


i 


short months. If it is the desire of the Department 
to maintain the Indian in his laziness (which is ad¬ 
mitted to be a prolific breeder of -crime), the end can 
■be obtained to a better advantage by allowing him to 
select his share of land under an allotment, then 
throwing the remaining land open to the white man, 
who will come in and farm the Indian’s land as well 
as his own. 

The Indian will thus be brought directly under 
civilizing influences, in a practical manner and doubt¬ 
less to his best advantage. Our delegation in Con- 
gres will have a fight o-n when they attempt to get this 
bill through and they should have the active support 
of every business man and other citizen of the Inland 
Empire who is interested in its advancement. Write 
each member of the delegation and let him know that 
you 'are interested and appreciate his efforts in this 
direction. Take up the matter with your merchants 
and business men and through them with the whole¬ 
sale dealers and manufacturers of other States, so 
that the Washington delegation will not be required 
to make this fight single-handed. If you have any 
influence now, it will give you strength and standing 
and increase your usefulness as an American citizen. 


THE GRAZING LAND LAW. 

Friends in different parts of the country have gone 
to work in earnest on the effort to get this law passed 
at the next session of the National Legislature. 

They are now circulating the petition printed on 
page seven, among their friends and this popular 
movement promises to reap a quick and sure reward. 
Would YOU like the opportunity of purchasing 160 
acres of grazing land from the Government for $1.25 
per acre without being required to live upon, or cul¬ 
tivate it; if you would, then cut out the petition on 
page seven, write in the names of each of your Con- 
gresmen and Senators, paste it at the top of a sheet 
of legal cap writing paper, sign it, write in your post- 
office address and have ten of your friends do like¬ 
wise and return it to Public Land at once. While 
doing this, think up a list of twenty-five of your in¬ 
fluential farmer friends and business men in either 
of the eastern or Mississippi valley States and send 
the list to us with their correct post-office addresses 
and we will send them notice of this movement and 
try to enlist their support of it. If you can think of 
-the full names and correct post-office addresses of 
twenty-five settlers on public land whom you have 
reason to believe have not heard of this movement 
to obtain the passage of a grazing land law, make a 
complete list and forward the same to us at once, 
and if you have time, wont you just drop them a line. 


































2 


PUBLIC LAND. 


CURRENT TOPICS. 

ABOUT THE SPOKANE INDIAN RESER¬ 
VATION. 

Department of the Interior, 
Office of Indian Affairs, 

Washington, September 26, 1901. 

Hon. Francis Cushman, Tacoma, Washing-ton. 

Sir;—The office is in receipt of your letter dated 
August 26, 1901, enclosing two newspaper articles 
published in the Public Land, a weekly paper print¬ 
ed at Spokane, Washington, in which it is suggested 
that the representatives in Congress from that State 
should take steps during the next session of Congress 
to have the Spokane Indian Reservation opened to 
mineral explorations. You request to be advised 
whether such action could be taken, and if so, whether 
it could be done by Executive Order or whether it 
would have to be done by the passage of a bill through 
Congress. You also request to be furnished with any 
general information bearing on the subject which 
would tend to show that the opening of the reserva¬ 
tion to mineral exploration would be wise or unwise. 

In reply to your letter the office has to state that 
the Spokane Indian Reservation was created and es¬ 
tablished by Executive Order dated January, 18, 
1881, “For the use and occupancy of the Spokane 
Indians. The general allotment act approved Febru¬ 
ary 8, 1887 (24 Stats., 388), a copy of which is en¬ 
closed herewith, provides that “in all cases where 
any tribe or band of Indians has been or shall here¬ 
after be located upon any reservation created for 
their use, either by treaty stipulations or by virtue 
of an act of Congress or Executive Order setting 
apart the same for. their use,” the lands of such res¬ 
ervation may be allotted in severalty to the Indians 
whenever in the opinion of the President such action 
is deemed to be desirable. 

In an opinion rendered by Assistant Attorney Gen¬ 
eral Shields, December 24, 1890, involving the rights 
of one Cotton on the Navaho Indian Reservation in 
Arizona, set apart by Executive Order, it was held 
that the effect of said act of February 8, 1887, was 
unquestionably to give the Indians the same rights 
in a reservation created by Executive Order as if 
made by treaty or act of Congress. 

The aforesaid opinion was subsequently confirmed 


by the Supreme Court oJ the'United States in the 
case of In re. Wilson, 140 U. S. Reports, p. 575, in 
which the Court said that ■whatever doubts might 
theretofore have existed as to the validity of the 
Executive Order creating the White Mountain In¬ 
dian Reservation in Arizona, were put at rest by the 
provisions of Section 1 of the aforesaid Act of Feb¬ 
ruary 8, 1887. The Court held that “the necessary 
effect of this legislative recognition was to confirm 
the Executive Order and establish beyond challenge 
the Indian title to this Reservation.” 

In view of the foregoing opinion and decision, the 
office believes that the Spokane Indian Reservation 
could not be opened to mineral exploration and loca¬ 
tion without appropriate legislative action, to say 
the very least. 

The Executive Order contemplated without doubt 
thait the Indians should have the free and unrestrict¬ 
ed use of the Spokane Reservation, and it is clear that 
to permit mineral prospectors to go upon the reserve 
for the purpose of locating mineral claims and pros¬ 
pecting mineral operations would to a greater or less 
extent interfere with the rights of the Indians as to 
use and occupancy. As to the wisdom of taking such 
action .in advance of the allotment of lands in several¬ 
ty to the individual Indians, the office has to say that 
it has been shown by ample experience, that it is im¬ 
practicable if not impossible to afford proper protec¬ 
tion to the Indians who may already have selected 
lands and started to improve the same and build up 
homes for themselves thereon, against such prospect¬ 
ors and miners. 

Very respectfully, 

A. C. TONNER, Acting Commissioner. 


DEVIL’S LAKE INDIAN RESERVATION- 

The Devil’s Lake Indian Reservation in the State 
of North Dakota is tot be brought to the notice of 
Congress at its next session in the form of a bill 
throwing it open to appropriation under the General 
Land Laws. This Reservation is in the Devil’s Lake 
land district and contains about 150,000 acres. Most 
of the land has been allotted to the Indians, but there 
are many fine oppportunities that are still left for the 
white man who happens along that way at the prop¬ 
er time. There will not be enough land left in this 
reservation to cause a great amount of excitement, 
but the probabilities are that there will be a number 
of the old time races there when it is opened. 










PUBLIC LAND. 


3 


MINING. 


MINING ON FOREST RESERVATIONS. 

There seems to be much difference of opinion in 
the minds of prospectors on the subject of the explo¬ 
ration of mineral lands within the limits of a Govern¬ 
ment Forest Reservation that really should not exist 
for the Act of July 30, 1898, made ample provision 
for the exploration and entry of this class of land. 
Under this law not only those who had established 
their claims to the mineral land prior to its inclusion 
within the limits of the reserve but also those making 
discoveries afterward, are entitled to mine and do all 
things connected with that character of land, just 
as though the land had not been included within such 
reserve. 

Among other privileges given to the miner by this 
act is that of using the timebr from other land within 
the reserve than that embraced within the limits of 
his claim for mining purposes “free of charge.” 
However in order to prevent abuses of this law the 
Secretary of the Interior Department is required to 
make such regulations as will meet that end without 
heaping any harships upon the miner or settler with¬ 
in the State or Territory where such reservation is 
located. The Secretary of the Interior in his circular 
of August 3, 1898, under this law enumerates those 
coming under its provisions to be those who live or 
have their claims either within the reserve or within 
a reasonable distance of it, in the same State or Ter¬ 
ritory, and he authorizes them to take an amount not 
to exceed a stumpage value of one hundred dollars 
without any formal application, but where their ac¬ 
tual needs exceed that amount, applications must be 
made to him and his permission obtained before the 
timber can be cut or removed. 

All persons whether they were settlers on their 
lands prior to the establishment of the forest reserve, 
or miners or prospectors who have taken claims, or 
contemplating the exploration of the mineral lands 
must strictly observe the rules and regulations, gov¬ 
erning such reservation and nothing which will inter¬ 
fere with the improvement and protection of the for¬ 
est growth will be tolerated, except such work and 
improvement as is legitimately connected with the 
claims and entries referred to. 

COAL AND IRON IN THE CASCADES. 

Large and valuable deposits of iron and anthracite 
coal have been discovered in Yakima County near the 


line of Lewis County in the State of Washington. 
The coal is reported to be a fine quality of anthracite 
and lies on top of a large deposit of iron which has 
been traced for a distance of eight miles. The coal 
burns freely making no smoke and leaves but a very 
small percentage of ash. About twenty claims have 
been located and those so far explored, show the 
veins to range from five to thirteen feet of solid coal. 

The strike is about fifty miles west of North Yaki¬ 
ma and about fifteen miles northeast of Sulphur 
Springs, in Lewis County. At present there are no 
railroad facilities but an easy grade can be obtained 
up the Cowlitz river from Olegua on the Northern 
Pacific to the coal deposits, and at the same time pass¬ 
ing through a well settled district rich in natural re¬ 
sources and which has an immense undeveloped ter¬ 
ritory back of it. It is reported that capitalists from 
the anthracite regions of Pennsylvania have made an 
extensive examination on the deposit and have not 
only pronounced the quality of the coal to be first 
class but have purchased the possessory rights of 
original locators and are going to thoroughly develop 
their properties. A new townsite will probably be es¬ 
tablished in the coal region as soon as title can be 
secured to the land, most of which has not yet been 
surveyed, and another flourishing community will 
soon be added to the 'State of Washington. 


NOME, ALASKA. 

What is claimed to be the largest placer deposit 
ever discovered in this district, or indeed in the world, 
is that reported to have been made in the Grouse 
Gulch district, on the Sugar Bench claim at the head 
of Grouse Gulch. 'The pay gravel is seventy-five feet 
deep, and so far, of unknown width, and pays twenty- 
five cents to the pan, for the entire depth of the grav¬ 
el. It seems that the claim was located two years 
ago, but in prospecting it the owners sunk one hund¬ 
red feet to what they supposed to be the bed rock and 
obtained very ordinary prospects. But lately they 
have discovered that the supposed bed rock was a 
kind of false bottom affair and that the pay gravel 
really began at that point and continued for a depth 
of seventy-five feet, and averaging twenty h> thirty 
cents per pan all the way down. It is supposed that 
the deposit is part of an old river channel and that ad¬ 
joining claims which have only been worked to the 
false bed rock are equally as rich as this one. This 
claim had been bonded by its owners for $50,000, but 
the bond expired and the happy owners now think 
they must have at least $50,000,000 in gold within 
the limits of their claim. 










4 


PUBLIC LAND. 


NEW OPPORTUNITIES. 


KALI SPELL, MONTANA. 

There is great activity in the northern part of this 
district in the vicinity of Kintla Lake, owing to 
the discovery of oil in that region. Hundreds of oil 
claims under the placer mining law have beeen lo¬ 
cated, a new wagon road constructed, and many tons 
of 'machinery have been hauled in to the foot of the 
Lake, where it will be carried by boat to near the head 
of the Lake on the American side of the international 
boundary line. The district is known to extend south 
from the International Boundary line for about twen¬ 
ty-five miles, and about twenty miles in width. These 
lands are in the Flathead Forest Reserve on the west¬ 
ern slope of the range of the Rocky Mountains, in 
the valley of the North Fork of Flathead river. Oil 
has been known to exist in this locality for many 
years, but owing to its being inaccessible, nothing in 
the line of development has ever been done. Sub¬ 
stantial buildings have now been erected and suffi¬ 
cient capital is behind the present operators to permit 
a thorough test of the district being made. For miles 
in each direction there are many springs which carry 
liberal quantities of oil that ranges in quality all the 
way from the thick black stuff to the nearly pure 
white article. Natural gas exudes from the ground 
and in many places readily ignites on applying a 
match. Drillings will be made all over the district 
and men of large experience with oil lands have pro¬ 
nounced the Kintla Lake fields to be among the most 
promising virgin ground that .has ever come to their 
notice. 

These fields are in Flathead Counity, which had 
nearly 4,000,000 acres of unappropriated surveyed 
and unsurveyed Government land, and about ten per 
cent of that amount is in the oil region. Much of this, 
however, is in the Forest Reserve, and cannot there¬ 
fore betaken under any except the mineral land laws. 

NEW TOWNSHIPS IN OREGON. 

Plats for seven new townships in the Burns, Ore¬ 
gon, land district have recently been filed with Regis¬ 
ter George W. Hayes and Receiver Charles Newell, 
and -settlers within these townships must file their 
applications for the land settled upon prior to the 
12th day of November, 1901, in order to protect 
their claims from an application which might be 
filed by a later comer, as their settlement prior to the 
filing of the plats will only make their claim good for 
three months. The new plats are for townships 20, 
S. Range 40 E.; Township 20, S. Range 41 E.; 
Twp. 21 S, Range 43 E; Twp. 21 S. ? Range 41 E.; 


Township 21 S. Range 38 E.; Township 21 S. Range 
42 , and 20 S. Range 39 E.; Willamette Meridian. 


LAKE VIEW, OREGON, LAND DISTRICT. 

There are-approximately 10,000,000 acres of va¬ 
cant land left in this district which occupies that part 
of Oregon bordering on the State of California. 
There are many excellent opportunities for irriga¬ 
tion, afforded by the Klamath and Clear Lakes, Kla¬ 
math River, and numberless small streams, as well 
as by the reservoir system in the foot-hills of the Cas¬ 
cade Mountain range. There is an abundance of wa¬ 
ter that could easily be obtained from these sou rces' 
that would be more than sufficient to irrigate all of 
Klamath County and supply enough energy to fur¬ 
nish all the light and power that would be needed by 
200,000 people. Large quantities of this land is good 
soil, free from stones but too dry to produce large 
crops every year, and wants only the life giving pow¬ 
er which the water, right at hand, will supply. The 
Klamath River is a large stream and is fed by the 
Klamath Lakes; it flows very rapidly and it has an 
estimated fall of nearly one hundred feet to the mile. 
The Klamath Indian Reservation is located in this 
country and when opened will afford much choice 
land for the homestead settler. This district can be 
reached from either Hornbrook, Ager or Snowdon 
on the Southern Pacific railway. 


A BUSY OFFICE. 

Register Ole Serungard and Reciever Henry E. 
Baird, of the Devil’s Lake, North Dakota, land office 
did a cash business of $30,700 during the month of 
September, 1901, and the demand for land in that 
district has reached the stage of excitement. Men who 
have been living at Devil’s Lake for the past twenty 
y ears and when they could get land near the town, 
are now looking for homesteads a hundred miles 
away. 

The contest work keeps two men busy all the 
time. The July report showed that there are about 
400,000 acres left in this district and if the business 
of this office for the next twelve months equals that 
of the past year, there will be but little land left in 
the Devil’s Lake district,, except that in the Devil’s 
Lake Indian Reservation. 


In Southern Douglas and Western Lincoln 
counties in the State of Washington is one of the 
best wheat districts in the state, this district is new 
and undevloped and offers many opportunities to 
the homeseekers. 










PUBLIC LAND. 


5 


LAND LAWS AND DECISIONS. 


CASH PROOFS ON HOMESTEADS. 

In our issue of September 24, 1891, we published 
the laws relating to commutation proofs on home¬ 
steads and gave it as our opinion that the law requir¬ 
ed fourteen months of actual residence and not an 
actual residence of eight months, and a constructive 
residence of six months. Since that issue, however, 
several of the Registers have insisted that the proof 
w ould be sufficient if it showed eight months actual 
and six months constructive residence and that they 
are governed by the circular of July 9th, 1896, pub¬ 
lished in (26 L. D., 544 and 545)-, which with the 
law authorizing it is as follows: 


“COMMUTATION OF HOMESTEAD—ACT 
OF JUNE 3, 1896. 

CIRCULAR. 

Acting Commissioner Best to Registers! and Re¬ 
ceivers, July 9, 1896. Gentlemen:—Your attention 
is invited to the act of Congress, approved June 3, 
1896 (29 Stat, 197), entitled “An act relating to 
commutations of homestead entries, and to confirm 
such entries when commutation proofs were received 
by the local land officers prematurely,” a copy of 
which is hereto annexed. 

The first section of the act provides for the con¬ 
firmation of cash entries based on commutation 
proofs made under section 2301, Revised Statutes, 
as amended by section 6 of the act of March 3, 1891 
(26 Stat., 1095), where at least six months’ actual 
residence prior to commutation has been shown and 
there is no objection to the entry except that fourteen 
months’ compliance with the homestead law after 
the date of entry has not been shown. 

The cases now pending in this office, coming under 
the provisions of the act, where the cash certificate 
has not been cancelled, will be taken up for consider¬ 
ation without application by the parties in interest. _ 

Where the cash certificate in a case coming within 
the provisions of the statute has been canceled, it will 
be necessary for the parties in interest, if they desire 
the reinstatement of the same and the confirmation 
of the entry, to file in the proper district land office 
an application for such action. You will forward the 
application to this office for consideration, accom¬ 
panied by a full report as to the status of the tract 
of land embraced in the entry, the confirmation of 
which is desired. 

The second section of the act modified the provis¬ 
ions of section 2301, Revised Statutes, as amended 


by the act of March 3, 1891 (supra), so as to permit 
the commutation of homestead entries upon a show¬ 
ing of fourteen months’ compliance with the home¬ 
stead law after the date of SETTLEMENT, instead 
of after the date of ENTRY, as formerly required. 
Constructive residence from the date of the entry 
will be recognized where settlement is made and resi¬ 
dence established within six months thereafter. 

The provisions of said section 2 are not intended 
to change existing special laws which permit commu¬ 
tations in less than fourteen months but are applica¬ 
ble only in cases where the cammutation is made 
under the general homestead laws. 

Approved: 

Hoke Smith, Secretary. 


(Public—No. 173O 

“AN ACT relating to commutations of homestead 
entries, and to confirm such entries when commuta¬ 
tion proofs were received by local land offices pre-. 
maturely. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre¬ 
sentatives of the United States of America in Con¬ 
gress Assembled, That whenever it shall appear to 
the Commissioner of the General Land Office that 
an error has heretofore been made by the officers of 
any local land office in receiving premature commu¬ 
tation proofs under the homestead laws, and that 
there was no fraud practiced by the entryman in mak. 
ing such proofs, and final payment has been made 
and a final certificate of entry has been issued to the 
entryman, and that there are no adverse claimants 
to the land described in the certificates of entry whose- 
rights originated prior to making such final proofs, 
and that no other reason why the title should not vest 
in the entryman exists except that the commutation, 
was made less than fourteen months from the date of 
the homestead settlement, and that there was at least 
six months’ actual residence in good faith by the 
homestead entryman on the land prior to such com¬ 
mutation, such certificates of* entry shall be in all 
things confirmed to the entryman, his heirs, and legal 
representatives, as of the date of such final certificate 
of entry and a. patent issue thereon; and the title so 
patented shall .inure to the benefit of any grantee or 
transferee in good faith of such entryman subsequent 
to the date of such final certificate: PROVIDED. 
That this act shall not apply to commutation and' 
homestead entries on which final certificates have 
been issued, and which have heretofore been cancel¬ 
ed when the lands made vacant by such cancellation 

(Continued on Page 7.) 










6 


PUBLIC LAND, 


MISCELLANY. 


WE WANT TO KNOW. 

Under this head the publishers will ask a number 
of questions each week, and invite answers to them 
by any of our readers who may be interested in the 
development of their districts. We wish it distinct¬ 
ly understood that the answers must be composed of 
facts, wholly freed from all fiction, and based upon 
the personal knowledge of the person answering 
the question. As an evidence of good faith always 
give full name and postoffice, but not for publication. 


Where there is an unappropriated island having 
160 acres or over of agricultural land that does not 
overflow, in stream which is within the boundaries 
of any public land district. State its exact location 
with reference to section, township and range lines, 
if surveyed, and if not, then its approximate descrip¬ 
tion, and the most direct route to it; also what kind of 
timber (if any) is upon it, and for what purpose the 
land could be most profitably used. 


Where there is a tract of unappropriated land 
containing over 160 acres which has been meandered 
as a lake where in fact there was no lake at the time 
of survey which can be cultivated without an expen¬ 
sive drainage canal. State full particulars as to num¬ 
bers of land, its condition at time of survey, and 
whether any claim is now made to it by parties as¬ 
serting riparian ownership, and whether there is any 
unappropriated surveyed or unsurveyed Government 
land adjoining the meandered tract. 

One year’s subscription will be added to the credit 
of any subscriber who furnishes us absolutely cor¬ 
rect answers to any of the above questions. 


Russia has invited the nations to participate in 
her “International Exhibition of Fisheries,” to be 
held at St. Petersburg in February and March, 1902. 
This will probably call for special transportation 
rates and the thousands of American citizens who 
were born in Russia and who came over during the 
past few years and got comfortably settled on one 
hundred and sixty acres of government land will have 
an opportunity of returning for a short visit to their 
native land. 


PETITION. 


Congressional Delegation from the State of 


We, the undersigned citizens and residents of the 

State of.do most respectfully 

ask your support of the Grazing Land Bill, suggest¬ 
ed by “Public Land”’ in its issue of October 1st, 
1901. 

Note.—Fill in the full names of each of your 
Senators and Congressmen above and attach this 
slip to another piece of paper upon which you must 
get as many full names and exact posfoffice ad¬ 
dresses as you can and return the petition to us with¬ 
out delay. • 










































PUBLIC LAND. 7 


(1 Continued from Page 5.) 
have been reentered under the homestead act. 

'Sec. 2. That all commutation of homestead en¬ 
tries shall be allowed after the expiration of four¬ 
teen months from date of settlement. 

Sec. 3. That all acts and parts of acts in conflict 
with any' of the provisions of this act are hereby re¬ 
pealed. 

Sec. 4. That this act shall take effect and be in 
force from and after its passage*and approval. 

Approved June 3, 1896.” 


ANSWERS TO SUBSCRIBERS. 

Under this head complete answers will be given 
to subscribers’ questions concerning the public land 
of the United States. Name and address of each 
subscriber must be given with letter asking the 
question. 

C. E. S., Usk, Washington: Will you kindly tell 
me how old a young lady must be to file on a home¬ 
stead; does she come of age at eighteen or twenty- 
one? 

Ans.—For the purposes of the homestead law the 
young lady must be over twenty-one years of age, 
born in the United States, or have declared her inten¬ 
tion to become a citizen of the United States, and 
single, or she may be under twenty-one years of age 
and the head of a family (that is having some one 
solely dependent upon her for their support), and 
single. The law makes no distinction on account of 
sex, except that a married woman who has not been 
deserted by her husband cannot make entry of land 
under the homestead law. 

H. E. S., Michigan.—Will you kindly inform me 
if there is a United States Surveyor General for the 
State of Michigan, and if so, where can he be reached 
by letter ? 

Answer.—Michigan has no United States Sur¬ 
veyor General. There are but seventeen surveying 
districts which, with their respective officers, are as 
follows: Sitka, Alaska; Tuscon, Arizona; San Fran¬ 
cisco, California; Denver, Colorado; Tallahassee, 
Florida; Boise, Idaho; New Orleans, Louisiana; St. 
Paul, Minnesota; Helena, Montana; Reno, Nevada: 
Santa Fe, New Mexico; Bismarck, North Dakota; 
Portland, Oregon; Huron, South Dakota; Salt Lake 
City, Utah; Olympia, Washington, and Cheyenne, 

Wyoming, c , CaHfornia _ Has a Military Bounty 
Land Warrant issue to the widow of a soldier in the 
war of r8i2 any present value, and if so how can it 
be used ? 


Ans. — Whether this warrant has any value or not 
will depend first upon the validity of the warrant; 
second, upon its having perfect chain of title, and 
third, whether the warrant had been surrendered to 
the Secretary of the Interior Department prior to the 
expiration of 12 months from, and as required by 
the passage of, the act of March, 1899. These war¬ 
rants must not be confounded with the ordinary Mil¬ 
itary Bounty Land Warrants issued under the Act 
of March 3, 1855. 

R. G. B., California.—I own a Military Bounty 
Land Warrant that has been assigned “in blank” by 
the warrantee, otherwise the warrant and assignment 
appear to be regularly executed. Has it any value 
in its present condition, and if not, is there any way 
of supplying the deficiency ? 

Answer.—Rule 4, provided by the interior Depart¬ 
ment for the transfer of Military Bounty Land War¬ 
rants in part, holds that “Blank assignments are 
VOID and will not be recognized by this office.” 
That is the General Land Office. However, it would 
seem that if it was the intention of the warrantee to 
assign the warrant to the party now holding it, that 
there would be no harm in placing the present hold¬ 
er’s name in the space left for that purpose. 


PERSONALS. 

Register William H. Ludden, of the Spokane 
Falls, Washington, Land Office, made a flying trip 
10 Portland, Oregon, last Thursday. 

Receiver Charles D. Warner of the Coeur d’Alene, 
Idaho, Land Office, visited Receiver S. A. Wells at 
Spokane Falls Office, last Thursday. 

John Hyde, Statistician of the Bureau of Agri¬ 
culture, in his Crop Reporter for September, 1901, 
places the wheat and barley crop of the State of 
Washington in the 102 column of percentages. This 
means that she is ahead of every other State in the 
Union on both the wheat and barley erop. 


CALIFORNIA. 

The oil excitement in Shasta County, California, 
has subsided somewhat and the companies are drill¬ 
ing in good earnest and with fair prospects. One 
well is.down ten hundred feet and they expect to 
strike oil at the twelve hundrel foot level. Seepages 
of oil from shallow deposits have been encountered in 
many places, and the prospects are good for the dis¬ 
covery of fine flowing wells. This land is in the Red¬ 
ding district and tributary to the Southern Pacific 
Railroad. 













8 


PUBLIC LAND 


Land Offices and Officers of the United States. 


E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior Department, Washington, D. C. 
Binger Hermann, Commissioner General Land Office, Washington, D. C- 


Alabama— 

Huntsville. 

Montgomery. 

Alaska— 

Rampart. 

Sitka. 

St. Michael. 

Arizona— 

Prescott. 

Tucson... 

Arkansas— 

Camden. 

Dardanelle. 

Harrison.. 

Little Rock. 

California— 

Eureka. 

Independence..... 

Los Angeles. 

Marysville. 

Redding. 

Sacraemnto. 

San Francisco ... 

Stockton. 

Susanville. 

Visalia. 

Colorado— 

Akron. 

Del Norte. 

Denver. 

Durango. 

Gunnison. 

Glenwood Springs 

Hugo. 

Leadville... 

Lamar. 

Montrose.... 

Pueblo.... 

Sterling. 

Florida— 

Gainesville. 

Idaho— 

Blackfoot. 

Boise. 

Coeur d’Alene- 

Hailey. 

Lewiston. 

Iowa— 

Des Moines. 

Kansas— 

Colby. 

Dodge City. 

Topeka. 

Wakeeny. 

Louisiana— 

Natchitoches. 

New Orleans. 

Michigan— 

Marquette. 

Minnesota— 

Crookston. 

Duluth. 

Marshall. 

St. Cloud. 

Mississippi— 

Jackson. 

Missouri— 

Boonville. 

Ironton. 

Springfield. 

Montana— 


REGISTER. 

John A. Steele. 

Robert Barker. 

Daniel B. McCann_ 

John W. Dudley. 

Franklin Moses. 

Fredrick A. Tritle, Jr.. 
Milton R. Moore. 

Charles T. Duke. 

Joseph H. Battenfleld.. 
John I. Worthington... 
Harry H. Myers. 

Henry A. Olesten. 

Stafford W. Austin,... 
Angus J. Crookshank. 

Frank W. Johnson_ 

Frank M. Swasey. 

Thomas Fraser. 

Aaron B. Hunt. 

John D. Maxey. 

Thomas S. Roseberry. 
Geo. W. Stewart. 

Peter Campbell. 

James H. Baxter. 

Charles D. Ford. 

Fredrick C. Perkins... 

Melvin A. Deering. 

John F. Squire. 

Lon E. Foote. 

Wat T. Beall. 

Willia mA. Merrill. 

James A. Layton. 

John R. Gordon. 

David C. Fleming. 

Walter G. Robinson... 

Lorenzo R. Thomas... 

James King. 

David H. Budlong— 

Neal J. Sharp. 

John B. West. 

Thornton S. Howard.. 

Kleber E. Wilcockson. 

Thomas A. Scates. 

George W. Fisher. 

Isaac T. Purcell. 

J. Ernest Breda. 

Walter L. Cohen. 

Thomas Scadden. 

Sylvester Peterson.... 

William E. Culkin_ 

Cyrus P. Shepard. 

Myron D. Taylor. 

James Hill. 

William H. Martin_ 

George Steel. 

Martin V. Gideon. 


RECEIVER. 
Herschel V. Cashin. 
John C. Leftwich. 

Wm. R. Edwards. 
Albert J. Apperson. 
Albert E. Rose. 

John C. Martin. 

John H. Bauman. 

Edward A. Shicker. 
John G. Chitwood. 
Felix S. Baker. 

John E. Bush. 

James F. Thompson. 
Frank E. Densmore. 
Arthur W. Kinney. 
Henry Malloch. 

Lloyd L. Carter. 
William A. Newcum 
Sargent S. Mortin. 
George A. McKenzie. 
Alfred H. Taylor. 
Othello Scribner. 

George W. Warner. 
Peter F. Barclay. 
Benjamin K Kimberly 
Daniel L. Sheets. 

Miss Martha C. Brown 
James W. Ross. 

John P. Dickinson. 
Fred Butler. 

C. Frost Liggett. 

John E. Pelton. 

John J. Lambert. 
Charles B. Timberlake 

Henry S. Chubb. 

George B. Rogers, 
Edward E. Garrett. 
Charles D. Warner. 
Wm. A. Hodgman. 
Charles H. Garby. 

Stephen J. Loughran. 

Cyrus Anderson. 

Lewis J. Pettijohn. 
Rudolph B. Welch. 
Frank W. King 

Charles J. Greene. 
Charles P. Johnston. 

John Jones. 

August F. George. 

Jay M. Smith. 
Christopher F. Case. 
Alva Eastman. 

George E. Matthews. 

Herman Schmidt. 

C. Sanford Russell. 
George A. Ramsey. 


Bozeman. 

Helena. 

Kalispell. 

Lewistown. 

Miles City. 

Missoula. 

Nebraska— 

Alliance. 

Broken Bow. 

Lincoln. 

McCook. 

North Platte. 

O’Neill. 

Sidney. 

Valentine. 

Nieyada— 

Carson City. 

New Mexico— 

Clayton. 

Las Cruces. 

Roswell. 

Santa Fe. 

North Dakota— 

Bismarck. 

Devil’s Lake. 

Fargo. 

Grand Fonts. 

Minot. 

Oklahoma— 

Alva. 

*E1 Reno. 

Enid. 

Guthrie. 

Kingfisher. 

*Lawton. 

Mangum. 

Oklahoma. 

Perry. 

Woodward. 

Oregon— 

Burns. 

La .(Grande. 

Lakeview..'. 

Oregon City. 

Roseburg. 

The Dalles. 

South Dakota— 

Aberdeen. 

Chamberlain. 

Huron. 

Mitchell. 

Pierre. 

Rapid City. 

Watertown. 

Utah- 

Salt Lake City... 

Washington- 
North Yakima.... 

Olympia. 

Seattle. 

Spokane. 

Vancouver. 

Walla Walla. 

Waterville. 

Wisconsin— 

Ashland. 

Eau Claire. 

Wyoming— 

Buffalo. 

Cheyenne.. 

Evanston.. 

Douglas. 

Lander. 

Sundance. 


Albert L. Love. 

George D. Greene.. 

Frank H. Nash. 

Edward Brassey... 

Samuel Gordon. 

Elmer E. Hershey. 


Fred M. Dorrington... 

James Whitehead. 

Joseph W. Johnson— 
Francis M. Rathbun.. 

George E. French. 

Stephen J. Weekes_ 

Robley D. Harris. 

James C. Pettijohn — 

Oliver H. Gallup. 


Edward W. Fox. 

Emil Solignac. 

Howard Leland.. 
Manuel R. Otero. 


Alex. C. McGillivray.. 

Ole Serumgard. 

Charles N. Valentine. 

Ernest H. Kent. 

Thomas E. Olsgard... 

Robert A. Cameron... 


James B. Cullison... 

John Boles.. 

Emory D. Brownlee. 


John A. Trotter... 
Seymour S. Price. 
Alfred H. Boles... 
Frank D. Healy... 


George W. Hayes. 

Edward W. Bartlett.. 

Eldon M. Brattain_ 

Charles B. Moores — 

Joseph T. Bridges_ 

Jay P. Lucas. 


John S. Vetter. 

William V. Lucas. 

Charles A. Blake. 

George E. Foster. 

Albert Wheelon. 

George P. Bennett — 
Lee Stover. 


Frank D. Hobbs. 


Walter J. Reed. 

Frank G. Deckebach. 
Edward P. Tremper.. 

William H. Ludden_ 

William R. Dunbar... 

John M. Hill. 

Matthew B. Malloy_ 


August Doenitz. 

Alfred Cypreansen.... 


Prince A. Gatchell_ 

William E. Chaplin... 

Charles Kingston. 

Albert D. Chamberlain. 

William T. Adams_ 

Alpha E. Hoyt. 

^Officers that have just been established to 
from the Kiowa and Comanche reservations. 


Andrew J. Edsall. 
John Horsky. 

William C. Whipps. 
Louis W. Eldridge. 
James M. Rhoades. 
William O. Ranft. 

William R. Akers. 
Frank H. Young. 
Thomas P. Kennard. 
Joel A. Piper. 

Frank Bacon. 

Richard H. Jenness. 
James L.McIntosh, Jr 
Albert L. Towle. 

David H. Hall. 

Albert W. Thompson. 
Henry D. Bowman. 
David L. Geyer. 
Edward F. Hobart. 

John Satterlund. 
Henry E. Baird. 
DeWitt C. Tufts. 
Christian L. Lindstrom 
Abner V. Hanscom. 

William J. French. 


David W. Eastman. 
Fredrick E. McKinley. 
Jacob Y. Admire. 


John A. Oliphant. 
Anton H. Classen. 

Joel R. Scott. 

John W. Miller. 

Charles Newell. 
Samuel O. Swackhamer 
Harry Bailey. 

William Galloway. 
James H. Booth. 

Otis Patterson. 

Frank A. Brown. 
Charles L. Brockway. 
John Westdahl. 
Thomas C. Burns. 
Henry E. Cutting. 
William S. Warner. 
George W. Case. 

George A. Smith. 

Miles Cannon. 

John O’B. Scobey. 
Columbus T. Tyler. 
Samuel A. Wells. 

Lynn B. Clough. 
Thomas Mosgrove. 
Lucien E. Kellog. 

Duportal G. Sampson 
Alexander Meggett. 

Ephraim H. Smock. 
Edward A. Slack. 
Frank M. F oote. 
Merris C. Barrow. 

Mrs. Minnie Williams. 
Samuel A. Young, 
accomodate the business 


|7i|.u new Opportunities for Vou and 

I/I I vl« vour "friends. * * * * « 

For a limited time “PUBLIC LAND” will be sent to five 
different addresses when sent in by one person for five dollars. 

Each issue of “PUBLIC LAND” will contain more of value 
to the subscriber interested in public laud matters than the full 
price of the year’s subscription. Some will receive a hundred 
times more. Get your friends to subscribe now. Send all re¬ 
mittances whenever possible by Post Office or Express Money 
rder, mi le payible to “PUBLIC LAND.” 

fhce 124-25 Auditorium Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


LITTLE BRISTLES 

The Crow Indians in Montana who claimed a part 
of the land upon which about fifty white men had 
settled have relinquished their claims and the white 
men in due time will be permitted to complete their 
entries. 

The land involved is in the Bozeman land district, 
and near the town of Roberts. 


















































































































































































































ADVERTISEMENTS. 


JOHN MeDOWELL, 

united States Commissioner and 
Justice of the Peace. 


Gold Butte, Mont. 


h; S. Swenson, Clyde C. Henion, 

United States Commissioner. Notary Public" 

SWENSON & HENION, 

Timber and Agricultural Lands. Homestead 
and timber locations. Agents townsite of New¬ 
port, 

Publishers of NEWPORT MINER, Ji.so^peryear. 
NEWPORT, WASHINGTON. 


ATTEND THE 

Puget Sound Business College 

for a practical, up-to-date business course. 
Bookkeeping, penmanship, stenography 
and typewriting. Send ten cents for sam¬ 
ple dozen cards and how you can earn 
some money during spare time. Address 
D. M. KNAUF, Principal, 902 Taklma ave., 
Tacoma, Wash. 

0. W. KENNEDY, 

Livery Stables, 

Gentle Driving Horses. ' Good Drivers to 
show you the land you want to see. 
Everything first class. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 

DOUGLAS HOTEL, 

William Newlove, Prop., 

AMERICAN PLAN. 

$1.00 and $1.50 Per Day. 

Prompt, Neat, Clean Service. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 

WILSON CREEK LIVERY STABLE 
R. J. Armstrong, Prop. 

GOOD HORSES, GOOD RIGS, GOOD 
DRIVERS, FIRST CLASS 
SERVICE. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 

CLAIR HUNT, 

Civil Engineer 
U, S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor. 

BOSSBURG, - - WASHINGTON. 

INLAND PRINTING COMPANY, 

610-612 Sprague Ave. 

Print Anything. Try us with your 
next order. 

It will save you money. 

M. L. SCHERMERH0RN, 
United States Commissioner 


There’s lots of good Vacant Agricultural Land 
tributary to 

LIND, . - - WASHINGTON 


WENTWORTH CLOTHING GO. 

Reliable Mens’ and 
Boys’ Outfitters. 

709-11 Riverside Ave. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 


J. W. MeCDNE, 

Farm and City Property For Sale 
or Exchange. 

MONEY TO LOAN. 

7-8 Sherwood Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 






























! 


Walton & Goodsell, Land Attorneys 


I 

i 

| 

I 

* 

»-8-*-8-*-8—8-*-8-*-8-*-8-*-8-*-8-*-8-*-8-*-a-*-a-»-8-*-8-*-8-*-88»-a-*-8-*-a~»-8-*-8-«-8-»-8-*-8-*-8'*-8-*-8-*-8-*-8-»-8-*-8-*-8-*'8-»8 


Leave of absence from your Homestead. Applications to 
amend your Homstead and making of all papers pertaining to 
Public Lands. Contests, protests and other bearings before 
any U. S. Land Office. The Commissioner of the General 
Land Office and the Interior Department. Mining Applica¬ 
tions. Military Bounty Land Warrants. Forest Reserve. 
Soldier’s Additional Homestead, and all other Land Scrips 
bought and sold. We can get your tangles straightened with¬ 
out your coming to the office 


Office Rooms 124-25 Auditorium Block, Phone Main 369 

Spokane, WashLirigton= 



This will introduce the Northwestern Busi- X 
■Bp 1 k 1 B Uijflliil IJP J L 1L ness College to the readers of Public Land. The » 

purpose of this advertisement is to induce the $ 
; ' f public to investigate the merits of the institution, f 

Hite I for on MERIT we build. ? 


Its students hold United States records for 
proficiency in Civil Sendee and Bookkeeping. 

FIVE COURSES OF STUDY. 

Shorthand and Typewriting, Civil Service, Busi¬ 
ness, Normal, and Telegraphy. 

For detailed information call at the office or 
send for catalogue. 


i if 5 11 

| ’ SPOKANE, WASH, 

~«^~8-*a-^~8~8~8*-8~8~8~8~8~8^8*a~8~8^8>*-8-*-8-*-8-«-8"'-8~8~8-*-8~8~8~8-8-»-8-*-8-*-8 

















//0S7££7M£fi£5 l£££OP£ OP £££££1/0//. 



o PVBLISHED 

° WEEKLY. 


BE VOTED TO THOSE 
INTERESTED IN— 
THE PVBLIC LANDS 
— OF — 

THE VN1TED STATES 


$ 1.50 PER YEAR 
l« ADVAdCE. ~ 


Vol. i. No. 9. 


Spokane, Wash., Oct. 15 , 1901 . 


Single Copies, 10 Cents 


CONTENTS 


Editorial— 

Needs of the Northwest. 1 

The Last Time.. 1 


Current Topics— 

Fond du Lac Indian Reserve— 2 
What was Done in SpokaneFalls, 
Washington, Land Office.... 2 


Be Careful.2 

Mining— 

Protect the Small Investor. 3 


New Opportunities— 

Timber in Stevens County, 

Washington. 4 

Mangum, Oklahoma District. . . 4 
More Timber Left. 4 


Land Laws and Decisions— 

Mineral Claims on Railroad and 

State Lands.5 

Certain Married Women Can 
Enter. 5 


Miscellany— 

A Quarter’s Showing at Coeur 


d’Alene. 6 

Personals. 6 

Petition. 6 

Protect the Small Investor- 

Continued . 7 

Answers to Subscribers. 7 

We Want to Know. 7 

Land Offices and Officers of the 
United States (corrected).... 8 
Farm Ponderations ... 8 























































\ 


ADVERTISEMENTS. 


JOSEPH HUDSON SHORT, 

Attorney at Law 
and 

United States Commissioner, 


T. D. HASTIE, 

Attorney at Law, 

U. S. Conrt Commissioner. 


Homestead Filings and Final Proofs. 


VICKSBURG. 


MISSISSIPPI, i OROFINO, 


IDAHO. 


ROLLIN J. REEVES, 


United States Commissioner, 


WILBUR, 


WASHINGTON. 


ALFRED THOMPSON, 
Attorney at Law, Notary Public, 
U. S. Court Commissioner, 

Real Estate, Loans, Abstracts, 


ns MAIN ST., 


OLYMPIA, WASH. 


SIDNEY MOOR HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

In and for District of Washington. 


HOQUIAM, 


WASHINGTON. 


H. G. LAKE, B. S., B. S. D., L. L. D„ 

Attorney and Counsellor at Law, 
U. S. Commissioner, Notary Public. 

Land Scrip of all kinds. 

School Land selections made. 


JOSEPH. 


OREGON. 


A. R. SWANSON, 
United States Commissioner, 


Notary Public, Loans’ 
and Collections—Conveyancer 


WILSON CREEK, 


WASHINGTON. 


GUMMING BROS. & POWELL, 
Choice Timber and Homestead Loca¬ 
tions on Government Land. 

TIMBER CRUISED AND ESTIMATES GIVEN 

Fruit, grazing and ranch lands and pine and 
cedar timber for sale. 


801 % Riverside Ave. 


SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


ORIN H. WOODS, 
Surveyor and U. S. Commissioner. 

Land Filings and Final Proofs. 
Ditches Surveyed and Recorded. 


BASIN, 


WYOMING. 


JNO. JAS. GRAVES, 


Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, 
Conveyancer, Real Estate, 


MEYERS FALLS, 


WASHINGTON. 


FRED’K J. HOAGLAND, 


Attorney at Law, 


ODESSA, 


WASHINGTON. 


C. H. HOLDEN, 


Attorney at Law. 


Choice timber lands in large or small 
tracts. Timber land cruised and estimates 
given. Government lands located. Fruit 
lands. Ranch land. Grazing land for sale. 
Climate unsurpassed; no cold, no heat, 
lands, ranch land, grazing land for sale, 
no cyclones. Correspondence solicited. 


FLORENCE, OREGON. 


J, W. MARSHALL, 
Attorney at Law. 


Practice in all the Courts. 


SOT Auditorium Blk., SPOKANE, WASH. 


HOMES: FOR THE HOMESEEKERS 

LANDS FOR THE LANDLESS. 

We have a large list of the choicest 
farming lands In the Big Bend and 
throughout the Inland Empire. Improved 
farms $15 to $20 per acre. This is the sec¬ 
tion that produces 30,000,000 bushels of 
wheat per annum. Fine fruit; no failures; 
ideal climate. Money placed for non-resi¬ 
dents on first mortgages on first class 
land. Trantum & Schoonover, Odessa,Wn. 


J. B. ZIEGLER, 

Notary Public, Real Estate and Fire 
Insurance Age at. 


IMPROVED FARM LANDS, RAW 
LANDS AND TOWN PROPER¬ 
TIES FOR SALE. 


Prices and Terms will be Furnished 
Promptly. 


ODESSA, 


Office on First Avenue. 

WASHINGTON. 



Quickly secured. OUR FEE DUE WHEN PATENT 
OBTAINED. Send model, sketch or photo, with 
description for free report as to patentability. 48-PAGE 
HAND-BOOK FREE. Contains references and ftill 
information. WRITE FOR COPY OF OUR SPECIAL 
OFFER. Itis the most liberal proposition ever made by 
a patent attorney, and EVERY INVENTOR SHOULD 
REAP IT before applying for patent. Addreaa: 

H.B.SIUSONSCO. 

PATENT LAWYERS, 

UDroitBids , WASHINGTON, D. C. 


Free Homesteads. 


There are over 100 good quarter sections with 
in short distance of the Great Northern Railroad 
that are subject to horoastead entry, the same 
kind of land that produced 40 bushels of wheat 
to the acre this year. We have an accurate 
knowledge of these vacant tracts and will locate 
desirable parties on them at very reasonable 
rates. Gallon 


H. E. STONE, 

With O. W. Stone Undertaking Co. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON 




See our Clubbing Offer 
on Eighth Page. 






















































THE LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS, 

One Copy Received 

OCT. 21 1901 

Copyright entry 
CLASS XXc. No. 
COPY • 


PUBLIC LAND. 


ft/£//0/7£,£7M££ /J £//£//OP£ 0£ £//£////£/0/X 



r\ pvblished 

^ WEEKLY. 

WALTON 5 G00D5ELL « 
PUBLISHERS. 


BE VOTED TO THOSE 
INTERESTED in^ 
THE PVBLIC L/\nOS 
^OF — 

HiE VflITED 5TATES 

5 LEO WALTON, EDITOR. « 


$ 1.50 PER YEAR 
in ADVANCE. ° 

3 SINGLE COPIES 

f TEN CENTS. 


Offices 124-125 Auditorium Hldg., Spokane, Wash. 


ADVKKTISING KATKS ON APPLICATION. 


export trade from the neighboring - districts. 

The Spokane Indian Reservation joins the South 
Half of the Colville Reservation on the south and 
practically the same natural resources that exist on 
the South Half are present in the Spokane Reserva¬ 
tion. It is known to be rich in mineral resources 
and there is more than sufficient fine agricultural land 
to give each Indian an 160 acre tract. 

There are several streams that can be made to pro¬ 
duce large amounts of energy for power and lighting 
purpose, and the opportunities for good homes and 
easy fortunes will be many on these two Washington 
Indian Reservations as soon as Congress says the 
word. 


Entered at Spokane, Wash., as Second Class Mail Matter. 


Copyrighted 1901 by Walton & Goodsell. 


NEEDS OF THE NORTHWEST. 

The prosperity of the Northwest can be materially 
advanced by the passage of three additional laws. 
The first of these is the removal of the $1.50 per acre 
bar from the North Half of the Colville Indian Res¬ 
ervation, by placing those lands under the “Free 
Homestead Law.” The second is an act throwing 
the South Half of the Colville Indian Reservation 
open under the general settlement laws, and the third 
is the opening - of the Spokane Indian Reservation 
to mineral exploration. The first of these laws will 
enable thousands of settlers, present and prospective, 
to add about $240 each, more to the improvement 
of their claims than they can afford to do, under the 
law as it now stands, for this amount must be paid 
to the Government for the accounts of the Indians, 
in addition to the regular homestead fees and com¬ 
missions. The settlement of this two million acre 
tract is retarded and many are holding off in the hope 
that the incoming session of Congress will place these 
lands on the “free list.” 

The South Half of the Colville Reservation con¬ 
tains several hundred thousand acres of the finest 
kind of agricultural land, which will be settled in a 
twelvemonth after it has been thrown open to settle¬ 
ment. There are immense deposits of gold, silver, 
lead and copper on this reservation, and while open 
to mineral appropriation, is prevented from being 
advantageously worked, owing to the lack of roads 
and transportation facilities, which the advent of the 
settler would necessarily bring. Besides these re¬ 
sources there are large tracts of valuable pine, fir, 
tamarack and cedar timber that would supply all the 
local demands that could possibly be made upon it 
for many years, as well as providing for a respectable 


THE LAST TIME. 

Those friends who are interested in the passage 
of a grazing law and who may wish to use the peti¬ 
tion which appears on page 6 of this issue will kindly 
cut it out and make use of it at once as this is the last 
time it will be printed. The time for Congress to 
meet is rapidly drawing near and your Congressman 
should have your endorsement of the matter RIGHT 
NOW. 

If you cannot approve of the law suggested NOW 
is the time to let it be known. If you have a better 
method of meeting the necessity than the plan sug¬ 
gested NOW is your opportunity for displaying those 
qualities of statesmanship which are of vital necessity 
to the welfare of the settler on public land. We will 
will gladly publish any outline or framework of a 
law that will meet the needs, providing it is forward¬ 
ed to us without delay, and the party suggesting it 
states that he or she is willing to spend a few hours 
time in giving the plan momentum in his or her lo¬ 
cality. 

Speak to your postmaster, your United States 
Court Commissioner, or if convenient to the Register 
and Receiver of your land district concerning the 
matter. Perhaps they do not know of your existence, 
much less of the fact that you are in their midst and 
with a purpose that is broader than the measure of 
your own personal necessities. You may have the 
dormant abilities of a Patrick Henry within you that 
needs only this opportunity to fire. APPLY THE 
TEST NOW. 


Weeds in fence corners and ghosts in garrets soon 
sow the township with disorder. 

A full deep breath between two clinched fists will 
carry a man past failure swifter than two “full” 
friends with palsied wrists. 


































2 


PUBLIC LAND. 


CURRENT TOPICS. 


FOND DU LAC INDIAN RESERVE. 

Recognizing the value of association with their 
white brothers, the Chippewa Indians are uniting 
their energies with the white man to have the Fond 
du Lac Reservation in Minnesota thrown open under 
the general settlement laws of the United States. The 
reservation is one of the smallest in the United States 
and contains only about six townships. 

Each Indian has had an allotment made to him, 
and of the seven hundred, most of them are conduct¬ 
ing farms of their own. The white settler with his 
superior knowledge of farming and improved ma¬ 
chinery has been of material advantage in bringing 
these Indians up to a high state of usefulness by hav¬ 
ing been so closely associated with them. This reser¬ 
vation when opened will be in Duluth Land District, 
near which city it is located. 


WHAT WAS DONE IN SPOKANE FALLS , 
WASHINGTON , LAND OFFICE. 

The following business was transacted in the Spo¬ 
kane Falls, Washington, Land District during the 
quarter ending September 30, 1901—$12,608.21. 

ORIGINAL HOMESTEADS. 

33,342.09 acres; fees and commissions.: $4,433.33 
3,850.38 acres; fees and commissions, 


Colville Indian Reservation Series. . 399.41 

Total, 37,192.47 acres. $4,832.74 

FINAL HOMESTEADS. 

9,982.05 acres; receipts.$545.28 

FINAL TIMBER CULTURES. 

447 acres; receipts. $16.00 

CASH ENTRIES. 

2 A 53-39 acres; 36 entries; receipts.$6,767.87 


one adverse, $10.00; 2 coal declaratory statements, 
$6.00; 3 mineral applications, $50.00; testimony 
fees, $214.32; cancellation fees; $6.00, 


BE CAREFUL. 

The State of Idaho under the acts of July 3, 1890, 
and August 18, 1894, has obtained a preference right 
of selection to a largo number of townships for sixty 
days after the township plats have been filed in the 
local land office, and parties contemplating settle¬ 
ment on unsurveyed lands in the State of Idaho 
should be careful that their claims do not fall within 
any townships, the survey for which has been applied 
for by the State. Under the following notice there 
remains eight townships to which the State has the 
preference right. There were many others included 
in this notice but the plats have already been'filed and 


are for this reason omitted from the following: 

NOTICE. 

“United States Land Office, 
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Apr. 7, 1899. 

Notice is hereby given that on March 22, 189, 
Hon. Frank Steunenberg, Governor of the State of 
Idaho, filed in the General Land Office, at Washing¬ 
ton, D. C., an application for a survey of the follow¬ 
ing described townships in the Coeur d’Alene land 
district, to-wit: 

59 N. Range 1, E. B. M. 

59 N. Range 2, E. B. M. 

59 N. Range 3, E. B. M. 

60 N. Range 1, E. B. M 

60 N. Range 2, E. B. M. 

60 N. Range 3, E. B. M. 

61 N. Range 2, E. B. M. 

61 N. Range 3, E. B. M. 

Said application is made under the provisions of 
the Acts of Congress approved July 3, 1890, and 
August 18, 1894, relating to the survey of grants of 
public lands which were made to the designated 
'States, under the several Acts admitting them into 
the Union, and to the end of satisfying said grants 
to the State of Idaho, by virtue of the provisions of 
the aforesaid Acts and by direction of the Commis¬ 
sioner of the General Land Office. 

The lands embraced in the above mentioned town¬ 
ships ARE RESERVED FROM ANY ADVERSE 
APPROPRIATION BY SETTLEMENT OR 
OTHERWISE (except under rights that may be 
found to exist prior to the date of filing said appli¬ 
cation in the General Land Office, on March 22, 
1899), and that from and after the said date of filing. 
March 22, 1899, until a period of sixty days after the 
said date of filing of the official plats of the survey 
of the above enumerated townships in this, or the 
proper local land office; during which period the 
State authorities may select any of the lands situated 
in said townships which are not embraced in any ad¬ 
verse claim: 

D. H. BUDLONG, Register. 

C. D. WARNER, Receiver. 

In addition to the above list on August 15, 1900, 
there was applied for, townships 23, 25, 26, 27, 28 
and 29, N. Range 1, East, and townships 1, on June 
12, 1901, Governor F. W. Hunt applied for town¬ 
ships 65, N. of Range 1 and 2, E. B. M., and on July 
5, 1901,, for township 29 N. of Ranges 4 and 5 East, 
township 30 N. of Ranges 2 and 3 West, township 
40 N. of Range 5 East, townships 41 and 42 N. of 
Ranges 4 and 5 East, township 43 N of Range 4 E., 
township 44 N. of Ranges 3, 4 and 5, East. 


















PUBLIC LAND. 


3 


MINING. 


PROTECT THE SMALL INVESTOR. 

The most serious drawback to the development of 
the natural resources of the United States is the 
great amount of carelessness and mismanagement 
practiced by the promoters and those who have con¬ 
trol of the corporations by which so-many of these 
enterprises are owned. As a result of this well 
known condition of affairs the prudent man and wo¬ 
man are kept from the investemnt of their savings 
in stocks of new corporations by a knowledge of the 
reckless mismanagement of the affairs of so many of 
them. This condition of affairs is not confined to 
any particular line of development, but is more fre¬ 
quently met with in the field of mining, due no doubt 
to the fact that fortunes are so frequently made in a 
few days or weeks, by the investment of a compara¬ 
tively small sum of money in such enterprises. The 
ordinary mining corporation usually comes into ex¬ 
istence in about the time necessary for a mosquito to 
reach maturity, it always saps its quantity of blood 
from the unsuspecting victim and. passes into the un¬ 
known, with about the same rapidity as does its long 
billed prototype. It is a fact that this fate is not 
necessarily due to he quality of the property upon 
which it is based, but most frequently to other causes. 
The story of the ordinary mining company is. one, 
which if elec'trotyped might properly be pasted upon 
the tombstone of perhaps fifty per -cent of these cor¬ 
porations (for at least that number die the same 
death), and that is to the effect that some person has 
found a piece of valuable “float” which assays high 
in values; he has searched for the ledge and found 
one whose general characteristics, resemble the 
“float,” a location is made, he goes to town with ore 
from the ledge (which too frequently is the “float” 
and may or may not be from the ledge located), 
tells the man who “grubstaked” him or some friend 
of the rich find. (It may be that a really rich and 
valuable discovery and location has been made, but 
for the purposes o-f this article the result is the same.) 
The friend agrees to assist in the development of the 
-claim; they decide that the easiest way is by the or¬ 
ganization of a company and the sale of st-oek; some 
attorney is visited to whom is promised one-tenth 
of the stock for attending to the incorporation of the 
company-under the State laws; the claim is sold by 
the locator to the company for. one million dollars, 
which now organizes with a paid up (?) capital o 
$ i ,000,000 (that is one million shares of a par value 
of one dollar each), some popular man (who has nev¬ 


er seen the claim) is next induced to become presi¬ 
dent of the corporation; the stock certificates are 
printed; the attorney has his tenth of the stock writ¬ 
ten out to him, the locator gets perhaps three-tenths 
of the stock, the friend it may be, one-tenth, and the 
other 500,000 shares of UN ASSES SABLE stock 
goes into the treasury of the company for the devel¬ 
opment of the claim. The company then proceeds 
to sell its treasury stock at from p2 to three cents per 
share, and when sufficient stock is sold the company 
buys tools and has more or less work done on the 
claim, in the meantime members are parting with 
their individual stock, the popular president sells his 
stock; a new man takes his place, and it is not long 
ere the company ends its mosquito life, by going to 
pieces. Several thousand dollars have thus been di¬ 
verted from legitimate enterprises and practically 
wasted when, it may be the very claim which was the 
basis for the organization of the defunct corporation, 
contained a hundred thousand dollars worth of gold 
or silver ore. It is the duty of the legislators of every 
siate in the Union to provide adequate protection to 
its citizens who are willing to assist in the advance¬ 
ment of their localities by investing their savings in 
enterprises which have for their purpose the budding 
up of the substantial prosperity of our nation. Such 
a law might easily be framed.. It need only provide 
that after its passage no charter should be granted 
to any corporation which With its application for in¬ 
corporation did not furnish sufficient pri-m-a facie 
evidence to a corporation board composed of three 
■state officers with the Governor and its chairman, that 
the alleged paid up capital consisted of personal or 
real property which had an actual market value of the 
full amount of the capitalization at the time of the 
application. It will be urged of course that such a 
measure would interfere with the development of 
thousands of small enterprises which could not show 
an actual cash value of as much as one per cent of the 
capitalization at the time of reorganization/but which 
-might reasonably be expected to yield dividends on 
the capitalization! when fully developed, but to this 
-objection it must be answered that the same careful 
judgment should prevail in the investment in stock 
as in any other line of business and the fact remains 
that the person who is importuned to buy the average 
share of stock today is led to believe that he is pur¬ 
chasing a pro rata interest in a fully matured work 
horse when in fact it is now even a sucking colt. The 
prospect which is ordinarily the basis for the organi¬ 
zation of the mining corporation today, instead of 
having a producing value of $1,000,000 (for which 

( Continued on Page J .) 










4 


PUBLIC LAND. 


NEW OPPORTUNITIES. 

TIMBER IN STEVENS COUNTY, WASH¬ 
INGTON. 

There are at least 300,000 acres of good fir, pine, 
tamarack and cedar timber that is directly tributary 
to the Pend d’Oreille River in Stevens county, Wash¬ 
ington, which is, subject to appropriation under the 
settlement and timber laws of the United States. A 
large portion of this land although now covered with 
timber will be good land when it is removed. 
There are good transportation facilities down 
the river for about sixty miles below New¬ 
port on the Great Northern Railway. A 
passenger and freight boat leaves Newport every 
day and makes landings at any place along the river 
where the passengers wish to disembark. Two oth¬ 
er boats are now in course of construction and a 
heavy settlement would have no difficulty in the mat¬ 
ter of ample transportation facilities for the shipment 
of hay, fruit, lumber, produce or whatever they wish¬ 
ed to send to market. At the present time there are 
three good openings for sawmills along the river, 
and might profitably be located at the mouth of 
Skookum Creek, the mouth of the Calispell or Le- 
Clare bay, respectively, eighteen, twenty-two and 
thirty-two miles north (but down the river) from 
Northport. Captain George H. Jones, now operat¬ 
ing on the river will contract with mill men to deliver 
their lumber at Newport for from fifty to seventy- 
five cents per thousand, from any point above lone 
(60 miles), depending on the distance.. 

This land is scattered through townships 31, 32, 
33 > 34 > 35 > 36, 37 > 38 and ranges 43 and 44 E. W. M. 

Perhaps one-half of the land is unsurveyed, but 
there -is no reason why those who wish to settle at 
once cannot do so. 'Credit for their residence, cul¬ 
tivation and improvements wall be* allowed when 
proof is submitted after the township plats are filed. 
There are large deposits of copper, and other mineral 
and coal lands, a part of which has been appropriated 
and is being developed. A fine bed of aluminum 
clay six feet deep has been opened up near lone where 
also a company is now clearing the land for the erec¬ 
tion of a large Portland cement plant. The clay dis¬ 
covered by these parties has been pronounced to be of 
a very fine quality and as there is a mountain of lime¬ 
stone near at hand an abundance of timber and trans¬ 
portation facilities, they have nothing more to ask. 
A peculiar clay, the kind of which the ordinary stone- 
china ware is made, is found to exist in large quanti¬ 
ties all along the river from Newport to lone, and the 
sand necessary for glazing purposes can be obtained 


at a short distance. It is confidently believed by par¬ 
ties interested in the development of these natural re¬ 
sources that the day is not far distant when 'the Unit¬ 
ed States will get a fair share of its dishes from pot¬ 
teries along the banks of the Pend d'Oreille River, 
owing to the belief that this kind of "clay does not 
exist in more than one or two other places in the 
United States. 


MANGUM, OKLAHOMA DISTRICT. 

Register John A. Oliphant of the Mangum, Okla¬ 
homa district, makes the following enthusiastic state¬ 
ment concerning the opportunities afforded by his 
district: 

“We have no vacant timber land in this, district; 
we have about 100,000 acres o'f pasture land yet va¬ 
cant, some little fair agricultural. 

We have about 55,000 acres of Forest Reserve in 
the heart of the Wichita mountains. One o-f the 
finest health resorts in the Union, timber, good water, 
plenty of nice fish and game in abundance. Turkeys, 
deer, antelope, mountain bear, prairie chicken, quail, 
rabbits, squirrels, etc. 

Oil has been discovered in many places throughput 
the new qountry and especially in the Wichita moun¬ 
tains in paying quantities. 

In this district only one year actual residence is 
necessary to prove up, in commuting. 

MORE TIMBER LEFT. 

In that district of which township 43 N. of Range 
1, E. or W. is the center there are approximately 
1,000,000 acres of the finest timber land in the Unit¬ 
ed States that has not yet been appropriated. It is 
'true that a large part ot this immense area is rather 
high and rough but in the worst of it there are many 
small valleys and parks which are excellent for agri¬ 
cultural purposes, and in time will be well settled. 
Its chief Value at the present time, however, for most 
of the land is for the fine fir, pine, tamarack and cedar 
timber that is upon it. The most of this land is locat¬ 
ed in the Coeur d’Alene district, although a consider¬ 
able quantity is in the Lewiston District,. The best 
opportunities are in township 43 N. of Ranges 1 and 
2 East and West and township 44 N. Ranges 1, 2 
and 3, West. 


The master’s facial expression is soon copied by 
his dog, and there is a “family resemblance.” 

The purring tab and the singing hen, preach ser¬ 
mons for the pessimist. 

The man who takes twelve strokes to fell a pole, 
must fight real hard to keep body and soul. 
















PUBLIC. LAND. 


LAND LAWS AND DECISIONS. 


MINERAL CLAIMS ON RAILROAD AND 
STATE LANDS, 

Sec. 2346. No Act passed at the first session of 
the Thirty-eighth Congress, granting lands to States 
or corporations to aid in the construction of roads 
or for other purposes, or to extend the time of grants 
made prior to the thirtieth day of January, eighteen, 
hundred and sixty-five, shall be so construed as to 
embrace mineral lands, which in all cases are reserv¬ 
ed exclusively to the United States, unless otherwise 
specially provided in the act or acts making the grant. 

REGULATIONS. 

HEARINGS TO DETERMINE CHARACTER OF LANDS. 

-99. The Rules of Practice in cases before the 
United States district land offices, the General Land 
Office, and the Department of the Interior will, so far 
as applicable, govern in ah cases and proceedings aris¬ 
ing, in contests and hearings to determine the mineral 
character of lands. 

100. Public land returned by the surveyor-gen¬ 
eral as mineral, shall be withheld from entry as agri¬ 
cultural land until the presumption arising from such 
return shall be overcome by testimony taken in the 
manner hereafter prescribed. 

101. Hearings to determine the character of lands 
are practically of two kinds, as follows : 

(1) Lands returned as mineral by the surveyor- 
general. 

When such lands are sought to be entered as agri¬ 
cultural under laws which require the submission of 
final proof after due notice by publication and post¬ 
ing, the filing of the proper non-mineral affidavit in 
the absence of 'allegations that the land is mineral 
will be deemed sufficient as a preliminary require¬ 
ment. A satisfactory showing as to character of land 
Must be made when final proof is submitted. 

In case of application to enter, locate, or select such 
lands as agricultural, under the laws in which the 
submission of final proof after due publication and 
posting is NOT required, notice thereof must first be 
given by publication for sixty days and posting in the 
local office during the same period, and affirmative 
proof as to the character of the land submitted. In 
the absence of allegations that the land is mineral, 
■and upon compliance with this requirement, the en¬ 
try, location, or selection will be allowed, if otherwise 
regular. 


5 

(2) Lands returned as agricultural and alleged to 
be mineral in character. 

Where as against the claimed right to enter such 
lands as agricultural it is alleged that the same are 
mineral, or are applied for as mineral lands, the pro¬ 
ceedings in this class of cases will be in the nature of 
a contest, and the practice will be governed by the 
rules in force in contest cases. 

102. Where a railroad company seeks to select 
lands not returned as mineral, but within six miles of 
any mining location, claim, or entry, or where in the 
case of a selection by a State, the lands sought to be 
selected are within a township in which there is a 
mining location, claim, or entry, publication must be 
made of the lands selected- at the expense of the rail¬ 
road company or State for a period of sixty days, 
with posting for the same period in the land office 
for the district in which the lands are situated, dur¬ 
ing which period of publication the local land offi¬ 
cers will receive protests or contests for any of said 
tracts or subdivisions of lands claimed to be more- 
valuable for mining than for agricultural purposes. 


CERTAIN MARRIED WOMEN CAN 
ENTER. 

(Act of June 6, ipoo.) 

• Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre¬ 
sentatives of the United States in Congress Assem¬ 
bled, That the third section of the ac„t of Congress 
approved May fourteenth, eighteen hundred and 
eighty, entitled “An Act for the relief of settlers on 
the public lands,” be amended by adding thereto the 
following: 

“Where an unmarried woman who has heretofore 
settled, or may hereafter settle upon a tract of public 
land, improved, established and maintained a -bona 
fide residence thereon, with the intention of appro¬ 
priating the same for a home, subject to the home¬ 
stead law, and has married, or shall hereafter marry, 
before making entry of said land, or before making 
application to enter said land, she shall not on ac¬ 
count of her marriage forfeit her right to make entry 
and receive patent for the land; Proznded, That she 
does not abandon her residence on said land, and is 
.otherwise qualified to make homestead entry: Pro¬ 
vided, further, That the manj whom she marries is 
not at the time of their marriage, claiming a separate 
tract under the homestead law. 

“That this act shalkbe applicable to all unpatented 
lands claimed bv such entry-woman at the date of 
passage.” 











6 


PUBLIC LAND. 


MISCELLANY, 

$23,801.55. 

A QUARTER’S SHOWING AT COEUR D’ 

. . ALENE. 

The following business was transacted in the 
Goeur d’ Alene, Idaho district during the past quar¬ 
ter: 

ORIGINAL HOMESTEADS. 


July, 8312.09 acres, fees and com... $1,091.75 
Aug. 5277.35 acres, fees and com... 697.65 
Sept. 5907.54 acres, fees and com ... 743.15 


Total 19496.98 $2332.55 

FINAL HOMESTEADS. 

July 1023.50 acres.'... $ 73.70 

Aug. 1847.03 acres . . .. i 3 2 -55 

Sept. 2045.69 acres..... 147.40 


« 4916.22 acres. 353-65 

CASH ENTRIES. 

July 1254.39 acres; Receipts.$2937.40 

Aug. 2971.39 acres; Receipts. 6760.75 

Sept. 2525.10 acres; Receipts.. 7784.25 


6750.88 acres; Receipts.$16482.45 

MINERAL ENTRIES. 

July 202.778 acres; Receipts.$1025.00 

Aug. 314.529 acres; Receipts. 1590.00 


517.305 acres; Receipts.$2615.00 

MINERAL APPLICATIONS. 

July 75.567 acres; Receipts. $10.00 

Aug. 136.133 acres; Receipts. 10.00 

Sept. 192.296 acres; Receipts. 60.00 


404.296 acres; Receipts... 80.00 

TESTIMONY RECEIPTS. 

July 137.15 3 Soldiers’Dec. Statements $ 9.00 

Auer. 264.45 2 Adverse Minerals. 20.00 

Sept. 317.30 


$718.90 

Railroad Selec. 52,324.26 acres Receipts. . $664.00 


State Selections . 120.00 

Six Cancellation Notices . .'. 6.00 


PERSONALS. 

Capt. Charles L. Brockway has been appointed 
clerk of the Rapid City, South Dakota land district 
and assumed his duties the beginning of last month. 


PETITION. 


Congressional Delegation from the State of 


We, the undersigned citizens and residents of the 

State of.do most respectfully 

ask your support of the Grazing Land Bill, suggest¬ 
ed by “Public Land”’ in its issue of October 1st, 
1901. 

Note.—Fill in the fpll names of each of your 
Senators and Congressmen above and attach this 
slip to another piece of paper upon which you must 
get as many full names and exact postoffice ad¬ 
dresses as you can and return the petition to us with¬ 
out delay. 


































































PUBLIC LAND 


7 


•( Continued from Page 3.) 
these companies are usually capitalized), can in nine¬ 
ty-nine times out of one hundred oases, be purchased 
from the original owners for from $500 to $5,000 
and the injustice of the-present system is too obvious 
to need further comment. No injury could possibly 
come to any enterprise which had an honest purpose 
in the actual development of any natural resource or 
public utility, from a law of this kind as the capital¬ 
ization of the company ooulcl readily be increased 
with its increase of assets as is now'clone in the cases 
of National Banks or other mercantile institutions. 

Benefits beyond measure would result from a law 
of this kind by furnishing proof to the intending 
•investor that the assets of the corporation had been 
passed on and found to be as represented by a board, 
composed of disinterested and honorable men. The 
bill would meet the opposition of every wildcat ope¬ 
rator and promoter in the state as it would deprive 
him of his occupation and render it impossible for 
him to fleece the unwary of their hard earned sav¬ 
ings. Ye't notwithstanding the opposition from this 
source the bill would be strictly non-partisan and 
would meet the approval of . every statesman in the 
legislature. 

ANSWERS- TO SUBSCRIBERS. 

Under this head complete answers will be given 
to subscribers’ questions concerning the public land 
of the United States. Name and address of each 
subscriber must be given with letter asking the 
question. 

L. H., Wyoming: I settled upon my homestead 
three years ago this fall. At that time there was 
plenty of water to irrigate the land, but i cannot ob¬ 
tain any water later than July or August now. When 
I made my settlement there was no' reason to believe 
that, the water would fail. Can I now relinquish my 
homestead without losing my homestead right? 

Ans. —You used your homestead right when you 
made your homestead entry but it may be that the 
Commissioner of General Land Office will allow you 
a second entry if you relinquish the first and mike a 
full showing of the causes which led to the relin¬ 
quishment of the first entry. We believe that the Act 
of June 5, 1900, would give him authority for doing 
this, providing the circumstances which now require 
your abandonment of the land, were in existence at 
the date of the Act referred to. He would only con¬ 
sider the restoration of your right when presented 
with an application for another tract of land. 

M. F. R., Idaho: Can a man prove up on his 


homestead and mortgage the land after he gets his 
final receipt and before patent issues ? 

Ans.—Yes, or he could sell the land and give a 
warranty deed; the chain of title would be complete.! 
on the issuance of patent whose effect relates back 
to the date of final proof, providing the proof is not 
faulty and on examination by the Commissioner of 
the General Land Office is found to be sufficient to 
warrant the issuance of patent. If the proof was re¬ 
jected for a sufficient cause the party purchasing 
(though innocent) would lose the land, and so in the 
case of a party taking a mortgage on a tract, the proof 
for which was rejected, would lose his security, as 
his mortgage would be no lien on the land after the 
final rejection of the proof and cancellation of the 
entry. 

WE WANT TO KNOW. 

Under this head the publishers will ask a number 
of questions each week, and invite answers to them 
by any of our readers who may be interested in the 
development of their districts. We wish it distinct¬ 
ly understood that the answers must be composed of 
facts, wholly freed from all fiction, and based upon 
the personal knowledge of the person answering 
the question. As an evidence of good faith always 
give full name and postoffice, but not for publication. 


Where there is a body of unappropriated Govern¬ 
ment land upon which there has been discovered a 
natural deposit of Nitrate of Soda. State if possible 
the exact section, township, and range numbers; 
name of party making the discovery and the known 
extent of the deposit. 


The location of five different live mineral claims 
that are on “railroad” land that has not yet been 
patented to the railroad company and for which a 
patent has not been filed. State the full names and 
post-office addresses of all the owners of each claim. 
The name and kind of claim, the character of the ore, 
amount of development work done on each claim 
and ifpossible the average assay values, and whether 
ore is being shipped from the claim. 

The exact location of a natural gas well west of the 
Mississippi River that is being used for commercial 
purposes. State names and post-office address of 
owners, uses that are being made of it and the cir¬ 
cumstances that led to its discovery and development. 


One year’s subscription will be added to the credit 
of any subscriber, who furnishes us absolutely cor¬ 
rect answers to any of the above questions. 

















8 


PUBLIC LAND 


Land Offices and Officers of the United States. 


E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior Department, Washington, D C. 


Binger Hermann, Commissioner General Land Ollice, Washington, D C- 


Alabama— 

Huntsville. 

Montgomery. 

Alaska— 

Rampart. 

Sitka. 

St. Michael. 

Arizona— 

Prescott. 

Tucson. 

Arkansas— 

Camden. 

Dardanelle,. 

Harrison. 

Little Rock. 

California— 

Eureka.. 

Independence. 

Los Angeles. 

Marysville. 

Redding. 

Sacraemnto. 

San Francisco ... 

Stockton. 

Susanville. 

Visalia. 

Colorado— 

Akron. 

Del Norte. 

Denver. 

Durango. 

Gunnison. 

Glenwood Springs 

Hugo. 

Leadville. 

Lamar. 

Montrose.... 

Pueblo. 

Sterling. 

Florida— 

Gainesville. 

Idaho— 

Blackfoot. 

Boise. 

Coeur d’Alene.... 

Hailey. 

Lewiston. 

Iowa— 

Des Moines. 

Kansas— 

Colby. 

Dodge City. 

Topeka. 

Wakeeny. 

Louisiana— 

Natchitoches. 

New Orleans. 

Michigan— 

Marquette. 

Minnesota— 

Crookston. 

Duluth. 

Marshall. 

St. Cloud. 

Mississippi— 

Jackson. 

Missouri— 

Boonville. 

Ironton. 

Springfield. 

Montana— 


REGISTER. 

John A. Steele. 

Robert Barker. 

Daniel B. McCann.... 

John VV. Dudley. 

Franklin Moses. 

Fredrick A. Tritle, Jr.. 
Milton R. Moore. 

Charles T. Duke. 

Joseph H. Battentteld.. 
John 1. Worthington... 
Harry H. Myers. 

Henry A. Olesten. 

Stafford W. Austin... 
Angus J. Grookshank. 

Frank W. Johnson_ 

Frafik M. Swasey. 

Thomas Fraser. 

Aaron B. Hunt. 

John D. Maxey. 

Thomas S. Roseberry. 
Geo. W. Stewart. 

Peter Campbell. 

James H. Baxter. 

Charles D. Ford. 

Fredrick C. Perkins... 

Melvin A. Deering. 

John F. Squire. 

Lon E. Foote. 

Wat T. Beall. 

Willia mA. Merrill. 

James A. Layton. 

John R. Gordon. 

David C- Fleming. 

Walter G. Robinson... 

Lorenzo R. Thomas... 

James King. 

David H. Budlong_ 

Neal J. Sharp. 

John B. West. 

Thornton S. Howard.. 

Kleber E. Wilcockson. 

Thomas A. Scates. 

George W. Fisher. 

Isaac T. Purcell. 

J. Ernest Breda. 

Walter L. Cohen. 

Thomas Scadden. 

Sylvester Peterson.... 
William E. Culkin — 

Cyrus P. Shepard. 

Myron D. Taylor. 

James Hill. 

William H. Martin — 

George Steel. 

Martin V. Gideon. 


RECEIVER. 
Herschel V. Cashin. 
John C. Leftwich. 

Wm. R. Edwards. 
Albert J. Apperson. 
Albert E. Rose. 

John C. Martin. 

John H. Bauman. 

Edward A. Shicker. 
John G. Chitwood. 
Felix S. Baker. 

John E. Bush. 

James F. Thompson. 
Frank E. Densmore. 
Arthur W. Kinney. 
Henry Malloch.' 

Lloyd L. Carter. 
William A. Newcum 
Sargent S. Mortin. 
George A. McKenzie. 
Alfred H. Taylor. 
Othello Scribner. 

George W. Warner. 
Peter F. Barclay. 
Benjamin K Kimberly 
Daniel L. Sheets. 

Miss Martha C. Brown 
James W. Ross. 

John P. Dickinson. 
Fred Butler. 

C. Frost Liggett. 

John E. Pelton. 

John J. Lambert. 
Charles B. Timberlake 

Henry S. Chubb. 

George B. Rogers. 
Edward E. Garrett. 
Charles D. Warner. 
Wm. A. Hodgman. 
Charles H. Garby. 

Stephen J. Loughran. 

Cyrus Anderson. 

Lewis J. Pettijohn. 
Rudolph B. Welch. 
Frank W. King 

Charles J. Greene. 
Charles P. Johnston. 

John Jones. 

August F. George. 

Jay M. Smith. 
Christopher F. Case. 
Alva Eastman. 

George E. Matthews. 

Herman Schmidt. 

C. Sanford Russell. 
George A. Ramsey. 


Bozeman.. 

Helena. 

Kalispell. 

Lewistown. 

Miles City. 

Missoula. 

Nebraska— 

Alliance. 

Broken Bow. 

Lincoln.. 

McCook. 

North Platte. 

O’Neill. 

Sidney. 

Valentine. 

Nevada— 

Carson City. 

New Mexico— 

Clayton.. 

Las Cruces. 

Roswell. 

Santa Fe. 

North Dakota— 

Bismarck. 

Devil’s Lake. 

Fargo. 

Grand Fonts. 

Minot. 

Oklahoma— 

Alva. 

*E1 Reno. 

Enid. 

Guthrie. 

Kingfisher. 

*Lawton. 

Mangum. 

Oklahoma.. 

Perry. 

Woodward. 

Oregon— 

Burns. 

La Grande. 

Lakeview. 

Oregon City. 

Roseburg. 

The Dalles. 

South Dakota— 

Aberdeen. 

Chamberlain. 

Huron. 

Mitchell. 

Pierre. 

Rapid City. 

Watertown. 

Utah- 

Salt Lake City... 

Washington- 
North Yakima.... 

Olympia. 

Seattle. 

Spokane. 

Vancouver. 

Walla Walla...... 

Waterville. 

Wisconsin— 

Ashland. 

Eau Claire. 

W yoming— 

Buffalo. 

Cheyenne. 

Evanston. 

Douglas. 

Lander.. 

Sundance. 


Albert B. Love. 

George D. Greene. 

Frank H. Nash_ 

Edward Brassey... 

Samuel Gordon. 

Elmer E. Hershey. 


Fred M. Dorrington... 

James Whitehead,. 

Joseph W. Johnson_ 

Francis M. Rathbun.. 

George E. French. 

Stephen J. Weeltes_ 

Robley D. Harris. 

James C. Pettijohn_ 

Oliver H. Gallup. 


Edward W. Fox. 
Emil Solignac.... 
Howard Leland.. 
Manuel R. Otero. 


Alex. C. McGillivray.. 

Ole Serumgard. 

Charles N. Valentine. 

Ernest H. Kent. 

Thomas E. Olsgard... 

Robert A. Cameron... 


James B. Cullison_ 

John Boles. 

Emory D. Brownlee.. 


John A. Trotter... 
Seymour S. Price. 
Alfred H. Boles... 
Frank D. Healy... 


George W. Hayes. 

Edward W. Bartlett..- 

Eldon M. Brattain. 

Charles B. Mpores.. 
Joseph T. Bridges... 
Jay P. Lucas. 


Andrew J. Edsall. 
John Horsky. 

William C. Whipps. 
Louis W. Eldridge. 
James M. Rhoades. 
William O. Ranft. 

William R. Akers. 
Frank H. Young. 
Thomas P. Kennard. 
Joel A. Piper. 

Frank Bacon. 

Richard H. Jenness. 
James L.McIntosh, Jr 
Albert L. Towle. 

David H. Hall. 

Albert W. Thompson. 
Henry D. Bowman. 
David L. Geyer. 
Edward F. Hobart. 

John Satterlund. 
Henry E. Baird. 
DeWitt C. Tufts. 
Christian L. Lindstrom 
Abner V. Hanseom. 

William J. French. 


David W. Eastman. 
Fredrick E. McKinley. 
Jacob V. Admire. 


John S. Vetter. 

William V. Lucas.. 
Charles A. Blake.. 
George E. Foster.. 
Albert Wheel on.... 
George P. Bennett. 
Lee Stover. 


Frank D. Hobbs. 


Walter J. Reed. 

Frank G. Deckebach. 
Edward P. Tremper.. 

Wjlliam H. Lndden_ 

William R. Dunbar... 

John M. Hill.. 

Matthew B. Malloy_ 


August Doenitz. 

Alfred Cypreansen... 


Prince A. Gatchell_ 

William E. Chaplin... 

Charles Kingston. 

Albert D. Chamberlain. 

William T. Adams_ 

Alpha E. Hoyt. 

* Officers that have just been established to 
from the Kiowa atid Comanche reservations. 


John A. Oliphant. 
Anton H. Classen. 

Joel R. Scott. 

John W. Miller. 

Charles Newell. 
Samuel O. Swackhamer 
Harry Bailey. 

William Galloway. 
James H. Booth. 

Otis Patterson. 

Frank A. Brown. 
Charles L. Brockway. 
John Westdahl. 
Thomas C. Burns. 
Henry E. Cutting. 
William S. Warner. 
George W. Case. 

George A. Smith. 

Miles Cannon. 

John O’B. Scobey. 
Columbus T. Tyler. 
Samuel A. Wells. 

Lynn B. Clough. 
Thomas Mosgrove. 
Lucien E. Kellog. 

Duporfnl G. Sampson 
Alexander Meggett. 

Ephraim H. Smock. 
Edward A. Slack.' 
Frank M. Foote. 
Merris C. Barrow. 

Mrs. Minnie Williams. 
Samuel A. Young, 
accomodate the business 


i7\uh mw Opportunities for Vou and 

iFSIvi* your friends. * * * « * 

For a limited time “PUBLIC LAND” will be sent to five 
different addresses when sent in by one person for.five dollars. 

Each issue of “PUBLIC LA'FD” will contain more of vahie 
to the subscriber interested in public land matters than the full 
price of the year’s subscription. Some will receive a hundred 
times more. Get your friends to subscribe now. Send all re¬ 
mittances whenever possible bv Post Office or Express Monev 
rlr, raili pa/tble t> “PUBLIC LAND.” 
fficei2|.-25 Au litorium Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


FARM PONDER ATI ON S. 

The stone over which we stumble in the dark may 
save us wet feet at the creek’s crossing- in day time. 

When the stomach cries for luxuries, last year’s 
tax receipts begin to feel lonesome. 

As the store bill grows big, the crop profits grows 
small. 

Apple trees do not grow as tall as populars, but 
they bring smiles to the children’s faces. 
























































































































































































































ADVERTISEMENTS. 


John McDowell, 

United States Commissioner and 
Justice of the Peace. 


Gold Butte, Mont. 


h: S. Swenson, Clyde C. Henion, 

United States Commissioner. Notary Public - 

SWENSON & HENION, 

Timber and Agricultural Lands. Homestead 
and timber locations. Agents townsite of New¬ 
port. 

Publishers of NEWPORT MINER, $i. 5 olper year. 
NEWPORT, WASHINGTON. 


ATTEND THE 

Puget Sound Business College 

for a practical, up-to-date business course. 
Bookkeeping, penmanship, stenography 
and typewriting. Send ten cents for sam¬ 
ple dozen cards and how you can earn 
some money during spare time. Address 
D. M. KNAUF, Principal, 902 Yakima are., 
Tacoma, Wash. 

0. W. KENNEDY, 

Livery Stables, 

Gentle Driving Horses. Good Drivers to 
show you the land you want to see. 
Everything first class. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 

DOUGLAS HOTEL, 

William Newlove, Prop., 

AMERICAN PLAN. 

$1.00 and $1.60 Per Day. 

Prompt, Neat, Clean Service. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 


WENTWORTH CLOTHING GO. 

Reliable Mens' and 
Boys’ Outfitters. 

709-11 Riverside Ave. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 


J. W. MeCDNE, 

Farm and City Property For Sals 
or Exchange. 

MONEY TO LOAN. 

7-8 Sherwood Blk. SPOKANE, WASH, 


WILSON CREEK LIVERY STABLE 
R. J. Armstrong, Prop. 

GOOD HORSES, GOOD RIGS, GOOD 
DRIVERS, FIRST CLASS 
SERVICE. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 

CLAIR HUNT, 

Civil TO n ginecr- 
U. S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor. 

BOSSBURG, - - WASHINGTON. 

INLAND PRINTING COMPANY, 

610-612 Sprague Ave. 

Print Anything. Try us with your 
next order. 

It will save you money. 

M. L. SCHERMERH0RN, 
United States Commissioner 


There’s lots of good Vacant Agricultural Laud 
tributary to 

UND, . - - WASHINGTON 

























Walton & Goodsell, Land Attorneys 


Leave of absence from your Homestead. Applications to 
amend your Homstead and making of all papers pertaining to 
Public Lands. Contests, protests and other bearings before 
any U. S. Land Office. The Commissioner of the General 
Land Office and the Interior Department. Mining Applica¬ 
tions. Military Bounty Land Warrants. Forest Reserve, 
Soldier’s Additional Homestead, and all other Land Scrips 
bought and sold. We can get your tangles straightened with¬ 
out your coming to the office 


^ Office Rooms 124-25 Auditorium Bloc^c, Phone Main 369 f 

- Spokane, W - ^ 

1 tz 






This will introduce the Northwestern Busi¬ 
ness College to the readers of Public Land. The 
purpose of this advertisement is to induce the 
public to investigate the merits of the institution, 
for on MERIT we build. ? 

Its students hold United States records for T 

proficiency in Civil Service and Bookkeeping. £ 

FIVE COURSES OF STUDY. § 

Shorthand and Typewriting, Civil Service. Busi- L 
ness, Normal, and Telegraphy. 

For detailed information can 
send for catalogue. 

E. H. THOMPSON, Principal j 

SPOKANE, WASH. | 

























DEVOTED TO THOSE 
INTERESTED IIW 
THE PVBLIC LANDS 

'•'OF*' 

THE VNITEDSTATES 


$ 1.50 PER YEAR 
in ADVAflCE. 


Vol. i. No. 


Spokane, Wash., Oct. 22 , 1901 . 


Single Copies, 10 Cents 


CONTENTS. 


Editorial- 


An Ounce of Prevention. 1 

Be an American in Fact....... 1 


Current Topics— 

A National Colonization Bureau 2 


Minerals and Timber— 

T. Roosevelt President. 3 

Booneville, Missouri.3 


Burns, Oregon 


3 


Independence, California. 3 


New Opportunities— 

Atoe and Ponca Indian Reserva¬ 
tion Soon to be Opened.4 

Camden, Arkansas. 4 

Wa-Keeney, Kansas. ... 4 


Land Laws and Decisions— 

Timber and Stone Laws. 5 


Miscellany— 

Personals. 6 

Answers to Subscribers.. . 7 

We Want to Know. 7 

Land Offices and Officers of the 
United States (corrected).... 8 
Gainesville, Florida. 8 
































































ADVERTISEMENTS. 


JOSEPH HUDSON SHORT, 

Attorney at Law 
and 

United States Commissioner, 


VICKSBURG, 


MISSISSIPPI. 


ROLLIN J. REEVES, 


United States Commissioner, 


WILBUR, 


WASHINGTON. 


ALFRED THOMPSON, 
Attorney at Law, Notary Public, 
U. S. Court Commissioner, 

Real Estate, Loans, Abstracts, 


63» MAIN ST., 


OLYMPIA, WASH. 


SIDNEY MOOR HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

In and for District of Washington. 


HOQUIAM, 


WASHINGTON. 


H. G. LAKE, B. S., B. S. D., L. L. D„ 

Attorney and Counsellor at Law, 

U. S. Commissioner, Notary Public. 

Land Scrip of all kinds. 

School Land selections made. 

JOSEPH, OREGON. 


A. R. SWANSON, 
United States Commissioner, 


Notary Public. Loans! 
and Collections—Conveyancer 


WILSON CREEK, 


WASHINGTON. 


GUMMING BROS. & POWELL, 
Choice Timber and Homestead Loca¬ 
tions on Government Land. 

TIMBER CRUISED AND ESTIMATES GIVEN 

Fruit, grazing and ranch lands and pine and 
cedar timber for sale.- 


801 Vi Riverside Ave, 


SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


T. D. HASTIE, 

Attorney at Law, 

U. S, Court Commissioner. 


Homestead Pilings and Final Proofs. 
OROPINO, IDAHO. 


ORIN H. WOODS, 
Surveyor and U. S. Commissioner. 


Land Filings and Pinal Proofs. 
Ditches Surveyed and Recorded. 


BASIN, 


WYOMING. 


JNO. JAS. GRAVES, 


Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, 
Conveyancer, Real Estate, 


MEYERS FALLS, WASHINGTON. 


FREB’K J. HOAGLAND, 


Attorney at Law, 


ODESSA, 


WASHINGTON. 


C. H- HOLDEN, 


Attorney at Law. 


Choice timber lands In large or small 
tracts. Timber land cruised and estimates 
given. Government lands located. Fruit 
lands. Ranch land. Grazing land for sale. 
Climate unsurpassed; no cold, no heat, 
lands, ranch land, grazing land for sale, 
no cyclones. Correspondence solicited. 


FLORENCE, OREGON. 


J. W. MARSHALL, 
Attorney at Law. 


Practice In all the Courts. 


207 Auditorium Blk., SPOKANE, WASH. 


HOMES FOR THE HOMESEEKERS 

LANDS FOR THE LANDLESS. 

We have a large list of the choicest 
farming lands In the Big Bend and 
throughout the Inland Empire. Improved 
farms $15 to $20 per acre. This Is the sec¬ 
tion that produces 30,000,000 bushels of 
wheat per annum. Fine fruit; no failures; 
Ideal climate. Money placed for non-resi¬ 
dents on first mortgages on first class 
land. Trantum & Schoonover, Odessa,Wn. 

J. B. ZIEGLER, 

Notary Public, Real Estate and Fire 
Insurance Agent, 


IMPROVED FARM LANDS, RAW 
LANDS AND TOWN PROPER¬ 
TIES FOR SALE. 


Prices and Terms will be Furnished 
Promptly. 


ODESSA, 


Office on First Avenue. 

WASHINGTON. 



Quickly secure!. CCS FEE I'VE WHEN PATENT 
OBTAINED. Send model, sketch or photo, with 
description for free report as to patentability. 48-PAGE 
HAND-BOOH FREE. Contains references and fall 
information. WHITE FOR CORY OF OUR SPECIAL 
OFFER. It is the most liberal proposition ever made by 
a patent attorney, and EVERY INVENTOR SHOULD 
READ IT before applying for patent. Address: 


H. 


iM?[ 


PATENT LAWYERS, 


ICO. 


&eDroit Bldg., WASHINGTON, D. C. 


Free Homesteads. 


There urn over 100 good quarter sections with 
in short distance of the Great Northern Railroad 
that are subject to horuastead entry, the same 
kind of land that produced 40 bushels of wheat 
to the acre this year, We have an accurate 
knowledge of these vacant tracts and will locate 
desirable parties on them at very reasonable 
rates. Call on 


H. E. STONE, 

With O. W. Stone Undertaking Co. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON 




See our Clubbing Offer 
on Eighth Page. 






















































THE LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS, 

• One Copt Received 

NOV. 6 1901 

COPYRIGHT ENTRY 

CLASS XXc, No. 

CORY A. 

‘ PUBLIC LAND. 


m//omm/cf/? /j T//r//op£ of r//£///irm 




© 

PVBLISHED 

WEEKLY. 

- 



PUBLISHERS. 


BE VOTED TO THOSE 
IMTERESTED IM—/ 
THE PVBLIC LAflDS 
~or~' 

THE VniTED STATED 

’ LEO WALTON, EDITOR. ' 


$1.50 PER YEAR 
in ADVANCE. 


SINGLE COPIES 
TEN CENTS. 


Offices 124-125 Auditoriutfi Bldg., Sfokane, Wash. 


ADVESTISING RATES C)N APPLICATION. 


Entered at Spokane, Wash., as Second Class Mail Matter. 
Copyrighted 1901 by Walton & Goodsell. 


Yol. 1. Spokane, Wash., Oct 22, 1901 . No. 10. 


AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION. 

The question of what to do with the anarchists of 
the United States is one that is agitating the public 
mind today, as but few public questions have ever 
done. That there are thousands of anarchists in 
the United States is true, only because the laws are 
so lenient, no one can deny. Thousands of immi¬ 
grants come to our shores every year burdened with 
the belief that this land of liberty is absolutely free 
and that as soon as they land, they can go to any ex¬ 
tent which their selfish natures suggest. They be¬ 
lieve that there are very few laws here and that they 
don’t amount to much anyway. There should be one 
law more, and if it is not passed by the national legis¬ 
lature, it should be by every State in the Union, and 
that is to require six months of hard labor without 
pay, 'from every foreign born man and woman ovei 
twenty-one years of age within the limits of the Unit¬ 
ed States, who has been here over six months with¬ 
out declaring his. or her intention to become a citizen 
of the United States. There are many men who 
have been in the United States for twenty years and 
longer who have not yet declared their intention to 
become citizens, and thousands of others who have 
been here for like periods who have not complete,, 
their act of citizenship. Dozens of men who have 
been here for years, walk into the public Land Ofiices 
every day to file on Government land, have not even 
declared their intention to become citizens of the 
United States, and must be directed to the clerk’s 
office for that purpose. A State law. that requires al¬ 
legiance to the Nation as a pre-requisite to residence 


within its borders will put the ignorant element upon 
inquiry and must of necessity open the way for an 
investigation of American institutions, which when 
fully understood is the best safeguard against the 
dangers that beset it, that could possibly he suggest¬ 
ed. It is true that there is a vicious criminal element 
that must be considered, which no amount of enlight¬ 
enment would pacify. However, the great danger lies 
not in that class, but in the larger one, which through 
real or fancied encroachments are led into the belief 
that their rights are being trespassed upon and it is 
necessary to throw off all restraints in order to obtain 
the redress necessary to their happiness. 

The only foreigners over twenty-one years of age 
that should be allowed to remain within the limits 
of any State in the United States for over six months, 
'should be those who are the duly accredited repre¬ 
sentatives of the foreign governments. These people 
are not here for the purpose of obtaining the protec¬ 
tion and advantages afforded by this Government, 
but all others should be required to manifest their al¬ 
legiance or to move out. 


BE AN AMERICAN IN FACT. 

There are hundreds of men in the United States 
and especially in the Western States who were born 
beyond the limits of its jurisdiction, that have resided 
here for many years, who have not even declared 
their intention to become citizens of the United 
States. A very large number of these men are no 
doubt as thoroughly attached to the principles and 
institutions of the Republic as any of its native born 
citizens, but the influence which this neglect to as¬ 
sume the full duties of citizenship, has upon the less 
loyal, is far reaching and of a nature which is calcu¬ 
lated to prevent a wholesome respect for the new¬ 
comer, which would he his, as soon as it were Known 
that it was his earnest purpose to support the Govern¬ 
ment which gives him a home arid that, too, guarded 
by the best blood that ever pulsed through patriotic 
hearts. Just at this time when every loyal heart is 
bowed in sorrow, and every honest brain is trying to 
render impossible the repetition of a like calamity, 
the foreign born citizen (if he has not already done 
so) should at once proceed to the nearest Clerk of the 
United States or County Court, and declare his inten¬ 
tion to become a citizen of the Grandest Republic in 
existence. He will make of himself a bettei citizen, 
and by so doing start an influence that will not only 
reach others of like status but give the native born 
citizen inspiration for being more energetic in the 
discharge of his obligations to this land of liberty. 






































2 


PUBLIC LAND. 


CURRENT TOPICS. 


A NATIONAL COLONIZATION BUREAU. 

In the United States there are perhaps one-half 
million persons who are engaged, directly and indi¬ 
rectly, in pursuits that are not calculated to advance 
the permanent prosperity of the nation. This class 
includes .a list that extends all the way from the or- 
dinary vagrant to those who are engaged in occupa¬ 
tions which have as their apology, the fact that it is 
their only means of earning a living. A dangerously 
heavy immigration of the illiterate and criminal from 
Europe is swarming.to our shores, and with the num¬ 
ber already here, who are resorting to all forms of 
trickery to supply the necessities of nature makes the 
problem one of serious concern to those having the 
welfare and prosperity of the Republic at heart. 

It is doubtless true that the greater per cent of this 
vast horde would eagerly grasp an opportunity of 
bettering their financial conditions if it were brought 
to their notice. It is also true that the natural re¬ 
sources of the United States are so vast as to be be¬ 
yond comprehension and that the attempt to measure 
the possibilities of even the poorest section, when 
used without necessary loss of energy, are sufficient 
to daze the mind. But aside from the resources 
which have already been appropriated and are so 
poorly used, there are millions of virgin opportuni¬ 
ties to which no individual claim has been laid. The 
Government through its different departments is. con¬ 
stantly taking an inventory of the immense resources 
of the Nation. Something of a general idea of them 
is obtained by the professors in the 'Colleges and Uni¬ 
versities, and occasionally one of the editors of the 
great dailies diverges for a moment from his efforts 
at educating the Nation in crime, to call the people’s 
attention to a few dry figures gained from the Gov¬ 
ernment statistics of the country’s resources, but for 
the vital, practical necessities of the men and women 
who are striving under a burden of ignorance and 
poverty to establish homes for themselves, in locali¬ 
ties where they can do so without being a prey upon 
their fellowmen, there is. no adequate assistance 
With the 'opportunities at hand the na¬ 
tional government could conduct a national coloni¬ 
zation bureau, which would be of practical value not 
alone to the class of people referred to,, but could be 
made the means of rendering effective assistance to 
each citizen of the Nation who was willing to help 
himself, and to inspire those to activity, who are dis¬ 
posed through habits of indolence, or perhaps dis¬ 
couragement, to drift with the common stream, 
whose thought of the future never goes beyond the 


next meal. This is an age of’ newspapers and the 
habit of its use should be the avenue through which 
the people ought to be brought to a realization of 
the oportunities open to them. Any man or woman 
who wanted to unite his energy with some 
of nature’s resources, should be shown 
where such an. union could be effected. 
And if that were clone, the thusands of 
half fed and poorly clad of the great cities would cer¬ 
tainly be less in numbers than they are at the present 
time. The man'*who-takes up 160 acres of Govern¬ 
ment land in the State of Washington, or elsewhere, 
and makes it produce thirky-five bushels of forty cent 
wheat, adds over $1,000 to the wealth of the Nation. 

It should be made the duty of each Government 
employe, whose regular duties bring him in contact 
with the people from whom he could obtain reliable 
information concerning the opportunities afforded 
by the locality in which he happened to' be operating, 
to collect such data and he should be required to send 
a weekly report to the bureau at Washington. For 
instance, the Registers and Receivers -of the one 
hundred and eighteen Land Offices and the thousands 
of U. S. Court Commissioners and Clerks of Courts 
before whom all of the papers concerning public land 
are made, are daily brought into contact with thous¬ 
ands of persons whohave an intimate and accurate 
knowledge of the public lands ip their immediate 
vicinity, and they should be authorized and directed 
to take the sworn statements of persons coming un ¬ 
der their official observation, relative to the public 
lands in their vicinity. These statements should be 
reduced to writing. This could easily be clone by 
adding twenty-five questions to the regular printed 
blanks,- and answers required of the person testifying 
in the proof or application. These answers could be 
separated from the regular blanks and forwarded to 
the bureau at Washington. 

In this way a vast amount of information ooulcl be 
obtained each week, and after being carefully arrang¬ 
ed and edited could be given to the public at the actual 
cost of publishing the reports. If those reports were 
presented in the form of a weekly journal and ten per 
cent of the space was devoted to advertising letoti- 
mate lines of business-, for which a reasonable charge 
should be made, the entire cost of the enterprise could 
be met and a nice surplus left for the public treasury. 

The price to the subscriber need not be over two 
cents per copy, and indeed if it were not out of keep¬ 
ing with American institutions, it might be given 
gratis. By making a charge for it the news dealers 
could be given an inducement to handle the journel 
and thus have it on sale in every news stand. 





PUBLIC LAND. 


3 


MINERALS AND TIMBER. 


T. ROOSEVELT, PRESIDENT. 

BY F. M. MCKEAN, SECRETARY. 

Is the name that appears on the patent that has 
just Veen granted to the townsite settlers of Gibbons- 
ville, Idaho. This land is in Lemhi County and has 
been under litigation for a number of years. Four 
or dive hundred townsite settlers have been holding 
the land against the claims of Butte, Montana, par¬ 
ties who were asserting ownership under the mineral 
land laws. The people of course are greatly elated- 
over this victory and aside from the pecuniary inter¬ 
est to them are proud to know that this patent is one 
of, if not the first, to bear the official signature of 
President Roosevelt. 


BURNS, OREGON. 

Of all the Counties in the State of Oregon, which 
offer unlimited opportunities for the exercise of en¬ 
ergy, capital and good business judgment, there is 
perhaps none where this can be better found than in 
the County of Harney. 

It has water, timber, minerals and oil, and the 
thousands of acres of rich agricultural lands, which 
are waiting to be appropriated by live energetic citi¬ 
zens. This country extends north from the Nevada 
line for one hundred and fifty miles, and is about nine¬ 
ty miles across from the east and west.- 

Within its borders are the Stein Mountains, Mal¬ 
heur, and Harney lakes, and innumerable small 
streams (which are filled with trout and other fish), 
and-will afford water-for the irrigation of several mil¬ 
lion acres of land, as well as furnishing light and 
power in great amounts. Colonies without number 
can find a substantial footing in this and surrounding 
counties in this district, and a small empire might 
easily be built up that could sustain itself with but 
little assistance from outside markets. There are 
nearly fifty townships of fine timber in the northern 
part of the district that is practically untouched. 
Much of this timber is tributary to the Silver River 
on the south side of the divide, and, the head waters 
of the John Day tap the timber lands in the southern 
part of Grant County on the north divide. The Mal¬ 
heur River also heads in this district and would af¬ 
ford an outlet for the timber on the east. Rich re¬ 
wards are in store for the capitalist and citizen who 
settles in the Burns District. 

BOONEVILLE, MISSOURI. 

Of the 76,000 acres of vacant public land in the 


Booneville district a very large part is known to be 
rich in lead and zinc. Rich specimens are found in 
many different parts of this district, and it is confi¬ 
dently believed that many fortunes are stored un in 
those hills that may be possessed by the poorest man 
in the State. 

There ary about 76,000 acres of vacant land in the 
Booneville district, situate as follows : 

In Benton County, 2,300 acres; Camden county, 
20,000 acres; Crawford county, 400 acres; Dallas 
county, 13,000 acres; Hickory county, 4,000 acres; 
Laclede county, 10,000 acres; Maries county, 2,000 
acres; Miller county, 4,000 acres; Morgan county, 
300 acres; Phelps county, 2,000 acres; Pulaski coun¬ 
ty, 16,000 acres; St. Clair county, 2,300 acres. 

Said lands are all timbered, as a general rule some¬ 
what broken, well watered, good grass lands, and 
well adapted to stockraising and the growth of apple 
0 rchards. 

All of said lands are subject to homestead entry, or 
to private entry at $1.25 per acre. The land office 
fees and commissions, payable when homestead ap¬ 
plication is made, are as hollows: $14 on 160 acres; 
$13 on 120 acres; $7 on 80acres; $6 on 40 acres. 

The applicant must in every case state in his appli¬ 
cation his.postoffice address and his FULL NAME, 
and in the event of his failure to do either his applica¬ 
tion will be rejected. 

The homestead affidavit must be made either.at 
this office before us or before the County Clerk, Cir¬ 
cuit Clerk, or Probate Judge of the County in which 
the land is situated ; if made before any other officer 
the application will be rejected, 
range desired. 

Very respectfully, 

Wm. M. Martin, Register. 
Herman Schmidt, Receiver. 

INDEPENDENCE, CALIFORNIA. 

There are about five townships of vacant timber 
land left in the Independence, California, district. 
Most of this is very scrubby and : Register Austin 
states ‘that it is chiefly valuable for fire wood. This 
of course does-not include the thousands of acres in 
the Sierra Forest Reserve. 


Opportunities, like red cheeked apples grow on 
high limbs and must be reached for. 

The Irishman’s hanging tree never reaches the 
legal height, nor bears sweet fruit. 

When carefully incubated, dollars will hatch geese 
that lay golden eggs. 
















PUBLIC LAND. 


4 


NEW OPPORTUNITIES. 

ATOE AND PONCA INDIAN RESERVA- 
. TIONS SOON TO BE OPENED UP. • 
Register Alfred H. Boles of the Oklahoma Land 
Office informs us that the Atoe and Ponca Indian 
Reservations in that district are soon to be opened, 
but that owing to the large number ofj allotments 
which must be made to the Indians there will not be 
a great amount of land left for the white settler. 

The Perry district includes the famous old “Cher¬ 
okee Outlet,” which was opened to settlement about 
eight years ago. There is not a vacant quarter sec¬ 
tion left in the Perry district and only a few vacant 
fractions. Register Boles and Receiver Joel R. Scott 
are working off from two to four hundred final proofs 
each month and it will not be long before every quar¬ 
ter section in that district is on the tax rolls. 

Natural gas has been discovered in that district 
at a depth of 180 feet, but a company has been or¬ 
ganized for the purpose of sinking 1,800 feet and 
piping the gas off for commercial uses. 


CAMDEN, ARKANSAS. 

On July 31st, 1901, there were 784,374 acres of 
vacant land in the twenty-four counties comprising 
the Camden district, divided as follows: 


Ashley 


Bradley .... 

12,423 

Calhoun .... 

13,090 

Clark. 

18,489 

Cleveland . . 

2,103 

Columbia . . . 

3,666 

Dallas. 

84 

Drew. 

3 , 4 10 

Garland .... 

64,295 

Hempstead . 

2 , 45 o 

Hot Spring . 

22,406 

Howard .. . 

62,072 

Lafayette . . . 

6,767 

Little River . 

2,476 

Miller. 

3,215 

Ouachita . . . 

801 

Nevada .... 

1,186 

Polk. 

167,862 

Pike. 

75,688 

Montgomery 

261,658 

Saline 

5,486 

Scott. 

17,942 

Sevier. 

17,648 

Union. 

10,848 


And consists almost of any kind of land that a per¬ 
son could wish for, except prairie land. The chief 
crops raised in this section are cotton, and corn, but 
any kind will grow abundantly 'that is adapted to the 
climate. Fruits of all kinds, berries and vegetables 
grow very prolifically and when pronerly cared for 
find a ready and profitable market. Large orchards 
have been planted in Polk, Sevier and Little River 
counties. From Duqueen, Sevier County, thousands 
of crates of canteloupes have been shipped this year. 
This is a new venture but is already an assured suc¬ 
cess. Arkansas has world wide reputation for her 
strawberries and apples, therefore I deem it unnec¬ 


essary to say anything further concerning them. The 
climate and water are good, winters mild and the 
summers temperate. Churches and good schools are 
to be found in all localities. 

These lands are not for sale, except when they are 
practically unfit for agricultural purposes; then they 
can be purchased under what is known as the Timber 
and Stone Act at $2.50 per acre. All other-land is 
subject to homestead entry. 

Every citizen of the United States, native born or 
naturalized, who has not taken advantage of the 
homestead law, is entitled to enter one 'hundred and 
sixty acres of land. For this' a fee of fourteen dol¬ 
lars is charged. Application to enter can be made 
in this office or before the Clerk of the county in 
which the land is situated. Residence of five years 
and a compliance with the law secures patent fbr the 
land. If the entryma.11, after fourteen months resi¬ 
dence and cultivation desires, he can purchase the 
land at $1.25 per acre. There are quite a number of 
kinds of minerals, slate and granite found in this dis¬ 
trict, which can be had under the United States min¬ 
ing laws. 

(This information has been obtained from Receiv¬ 
er Edward A. Schicker.—Eu.) 

WA-KEENEY, KANSAS. 

Register Isaac T, Purcell and Receiver Frank W. 
King have prepared the following interesting report 
concerning the opportunities offered in their land dis- 
irictt 

There are about 300,000 acres of vacant Govern¬ 
ment land in this district, subject to homestead entry, 
about one-half of which is within twenty miles of the 
Kansas Division of the Union Pacific railroad, and 
is “double mi'nimum” land, and a homestead entry 
for 160 acres costs $18.00; the other half lies outside 
of. the twenty mile limit and is “minimum land and 
an entry costs $14.00. 

The vacant land lies mostly in Gove, Logan,Wal¬ 
lace, Greeley, Wichita, Scott and Lane counties, and 
is mostly nice, smooth land, deep rich soil, plenty of 
pure water. All prairie ; no timeber. 

In every locality where avcant land lies, lives many 
prosperous farmers and stockmen. School houses 
and churches abound in every part of the district. 

Quite an interest is being taken in growing alfalfa, 
the creek and river bottoms of this district are well 
adapted to growing alfalfa; as many as four crops 
are cut in one season. No irrigation is used for alfal¬ 
fa, and very little for any purpose except for gardens 
or trees. 



















PUBLIC LAND. 


5 


LAND LAWS AND DECISIONS. 


TIMBER AND STONE LAWS. 

An Act for the sale of Timber Lands in the States of Cali¬ 
fornia, Oreion, Nevada and in Washington 
Territory. 

“Be it enacted .by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the United States of America in Congress Assembled, 
That surveyed public lands of the United States within the 
States of California,. Oregon, and Nevada, and in Washing¬ 
ton Territory, not includede within military, Indian or other 
reservations of the United States, valuable chiefly for tim¬ 
ber, but unfit for cultivation, and which have not been offer¬ 
ed at public sale, according to law, may be sold to citizens 
of the United States, or persons who have declared their in¬ 
tention fco become such, in quantities not exceeding one 
hundred and sixty acres bo any one person or association of 
persons, at the minimum price of two dollars and fifty cents 
per acre; and lands valuable chiefly for stone may be sold 
or the same terms as timber lands: Provided, That nothing 
herein contained shall defeat or impair any bona fide claim 
under any law of the United States, or authorize the sale of 
any mining claim, or the improvements of any bona fide 
settler, or lands containing gold, silver, cinnabar, copper or 
•coal, or lands selected by the said 'States under any law 
of the United States donating lands for internal improve¬ 
ments, education, or other purposes: And provided further, 
That none of the rights conferred by the act approved July 
twenty-sixth, eighteen hundred and sixty-six, entitled “An 
act granting the right of way to ditch and canal owners 
over the public lands, and for other purposes,” shall be 
abrogated by this act; and all patents granted shall be sub¬ 
ject to any vested and accrued water rights, or rights to 
ditches and resorvolrs used in connection with such water 
rights, as may have been acquired under and by the provis¬ 
ions of said act; and such fights shall be expressly reserved 
in any patent issued under this act. 

Sec. 2. That any person desiring to avail himself of the 
provisions of this act shall file with the register of the prop¬ 
er district a written statement in duplicate, one of which is 
to be transmitted to the General Land Office, designating by 
legal subdivisions the particular ’tract of land he desires to 
purchase, setting forth that the same is unfit for cultivation, 
and valuable chiefly for its timber or stone; that it is unin¬ 
habited; contains no mining or other improvements, except 
for ditch or canal purposes, where any such ao exist, save 
such as were made or belonged to the applicant, nor, as de¬ 
ponent verily believes, any valuable deposit of gold, silver 
cinnabar, copper, or coal; that deponent has made no other 
application under this act; that he does not apply to pur¬ 
chase the same on speculation, but in good faith to appro¬ 
priate it to his own exclusive use and benefit; and that he 
has not, directly or indirectly, made any agreement or con¬ 
tract, in any way or manner, with any person or persons 
whatsoever, by which the title which he might acquire from 
the Government of the United States should inure, in whole 
or in part to the benefit of any person except himself; which 
statement must be verified by the 1 oalth of the applicant be¬ 
fore the register or the receiver of the land office within the 
district where the land Is situated; and if any person taking 
such oath shall swear falsely in the premises, he shall be 
subject to all the pains and penalties of perjury, and shall 
forfeit -the money which he may have paid for said lands, 
and all right and title \bo the same; and any grant or con¬ 


veyance which he may have made, except in the hands of 
bona fide purchasers, shall be null and void. 

Sec. 3. That upon the filing of said statement, as provided 
in the second section of this act, the register of the land 
office shall post a notice of such application, embracing a 
description of the land by legal subdivisions, in his office, 
for a period of sixty days, and shall furnish the applicant 
copy of the same for publication at the expense of such ap¬ 
plicant, in a newspaper published nearest the location of the 
premises, for a like period of time and after the expiration 
of said sixty days, if no adverse claim shall have been filed, 
the person desiring to* purchase shall furnish to the register 
of the land office satisfactory evidence, first, that said notice 
of the application prepared by the register aforesaid was 
duly published in a newspaper as herein required; secondly, 
that the land is of the character contemplated in this act, 
unoccupied and without improvements, other than those ex¬ 
cepted, either mining or agricultural, and that it apparent¬ 
ly contains no valuable deposits of gold, silver, cinnabar, 
copper, or coal; and upon payment to the proper officer of 
the purchase money of said land, together with the fees of 
the register and the receiver, as provided for in case of 
mining claims in the twelfth section of the act approved 
'May tenth, eighteen hundred and seventy-two, the applicant 
may be permitted to enter said tract, and, on the tnansmiss- 
sion to the General Land Office of the papers and testimony 
in the case, a patent shall issue thereon: Provided, That 
any person having a valid claim to any portion of the land 
may object in writing, to the issuance of a patent to lands 
so held by him stating the nature of his claim thereto; and 
evidence shall be taken and the merits of said objection 
shall be determined by the officers of the land office, subject 
to appeal, as in other land cases. Effect shall be given to the 
foregoing provisions of this act by regulations to be pre¬ 
scribed by the Commissioner of the General Land Office. 

Sec. 6. That all acts and parts of acts inconsistent with 
the provisions of this act are hereby repealed. 

Approved, June 3, 1878 (20 iStat., 89). 


(Act August If, 1892.) 

Sec. 2. That an act entitled “An act for the sale of timber 
lands in the States of 'California, Oregon, Nevada, and Wash¬ 
ington Territory, approved June third, eighteen hundred 
and .seventy-eight,, be, and the same is hereby, amended by 
striking out the words “States of California, Oregon, Nevada 
■and 1 Washington Territory,” where the same occur in the 
second and third lines of said act, and insert in lieu thereof 
the words “public-land States,” the purpose of this act being 
to make said act of June third, eighteen hundred and sev¬ 
enty-eight, applicable to all the public-land States.” 


TIMBER AND STONE LANDS. 

(Regulations under Act of June 3, 1878.) 

“1. The quantity of land which may be lawfully acquired 
under said acts by any one person or association is limited 
to not exceeding 160 acres which must be in one body. (See 
case of Daniel J. Heyfrao, 19 L. D 512.) 

“2. The land must be valuable chiefly for timber (or 
stone) and unfit for cultivation if the timber were removed.” 

“3. It must be unoffered, unreserved, unappropriated, and 
uninhabited, and without improvements (except for ditch 
or canal purposes), 'save such as were made by or beong to 
the applicant. 

“4. Lands containing valuable deposits of gold, silver. 













6 


PUBLIC LAND 


cinnabar, copper, or coal are not subject to entry under !,his 
act. 

“5. One en'try or filing only can be allowed any person or 
association of persons. A married woman may be permitted 
to purchase under said act, provided the laws of the State 
or Territory in which the entry is made permit a married 
woman to purchase and hold real estate as a feme soie; but 
in addition to the proofs already provided for she shall make 
affidavit at the time of entry that she purposes to purchase 
said land with her separate money,, m which her husband 
has no interest or claim; that said entry is made for her 
sole, and separate use/ and benefit; that she has made no 
contract or agreement whereby any interest whatever there¬ 
in will inure to the benefit of her husband or any other per¬ 
son, and that .she has never made any entry under said act, 
or derived or had any interest whatever, directly or indirect¬ 
ly, in or from a former entry, made by any person or asso¬ 
ciation of persons. 

“6. A person .applying to purchase a tract under the pro¬ 
visions of this act is required to make affidavit before the 
register or receiver that he has made no prior application 
under this act; that he is by birth or naturalization a citi¬ 
zen of the United States, or has declared his intention to 
become a citizen. If native born, parol evidence to that fact 
will be sufficient; if not native born, record evidence of the 
prescribed qualification must be furnished. The affidavit 
muct designate 'by legal subdivisions the tract which the 
applicant desires to purchase, setting forth its character as 
above; stating that the same is unfit for cultivation, and 
valuable chiefly for its timber or si.one; that it is uninhab¬ 
ited; contains no mining or other improvements, except for 
'ditch or canal purposes (if .any exist), save such as were 
made by or belong to the applicant, nor, as deponent verily 
believes, any valuable deposit of gold, silver, cinnabar, cop¬ 
per or coal; 'that deponent does not apply tio purchase the 
same on speculation, but in good faith to appropriate it to 
his own exclusive use and benefit; and that he has not, di¬ 
rectly or indirectly, made any agreement or con v r act, in any 
way or manner, with any person or persons whomsoever, 
by which the title be may acquire from the Government of 
the United States shall inure in whole or in part to the 
benefit of any person except himself. 

“7. Every person swearing falsely to any such affidavit is 
guilty .of perjury, and will be punished as provided by law 
for such offense. In addition thereto, 'the money that may be 
paid for the land is forfeited, and all conveyances of the 
land, or of any right, title, or claim thereto, are absolutely 
null and void as against the United States. 

“8. The sworn statement before the register and receiver 
required as above (section 2 of the act) must be made upon 
the personal knowledge of applicant, except in Ithe particu¬ 
lars in which the statute provides that the affidavit may be 
made upon information and belief. 

“10. The published notice required by the third section of 
the act must, state the time and place when, and name the 
officei' before whom the party intends to offer proof, which 
must be after the expiration of the sixty days of publication 
(circular of .September 5, 1889, 9 L. D., 384), and must also 
contain the names of the witnesses who are to testify. (See 
case of Sara L. Bigelow, 20 L. D., 6.) 

“11. The evidence to be furnished to the satisfaction of 
Ithe register and receiver at the time of entry, as required 
by t.hq third section of the act, must be taken before the 
register and receiver, and will consist of the testimony of 


claimant, corroborated by the testimony of two disinterested 
witnesses. The testimony will he reduced to writing by the 
register and receiver upon the blanks provided for the pur¬ 
pose, after verbally propounding the questions set forth in 
the printed forms. The accuracy of affiant’s information 
and the bona fides of the entry must be tested by close and 
sufficient oral examination. The register and receiver will 
especially direct such examination to ascertain whether the 
entry .is made in good faith for the appropriation of the land 
to the entryman’s own use, and not for sale or speculation, 
and whether he has conveyed the land or his right thereto, 
or agreed.to make any such conveyance, or whether he has 
directly or indirectly entered into any contract or agree¬ 
ment in any manner with any person or persons whomso¬ 
ever by which the title that may be acquired by the entry 
shall inure, in whole or tin part, to the benefit of any person 
or persons except himself. They will certify to the fact of 
such oral examination, its sufficiency, and their satisfac¬ 
tion therewith. 

“14. When an adverse claim, or any protest against ac¬ 
cepting proof or allowing an entry, is filed before final cer¬ 
tificate has been issued the register and receiver will at 
once order a hearing, .and will allow no entry until after 
their written determination upon such hearing has been 
rendered. They will report their final action in all protest 
and contest cases, and transmit the papers to this office. 

“16. Contests may he brought against timber and stone 
land application or entries, in accordance with rule 1 of 
Rules of Practice, either by an adverse claimant or by any 
other person, and for any sufficient cause affecting the le¬ 
gality or validity of the filing, entry, or claiim. 


PERSONALS. 

Register H. D. McKnigffit, of the Lawton, Okla¬ 
homa, office and former Register of the Mangun dis¬ 
trict from April, 1897, to April, 1901, enjoys the 
proud distinction of presiding over an office that did 
the lagest amount of business in the same length of 
time that was ever done since the enactment of the 
homestead law. This office was opened for business 
on the 4th day of August, and on the 4th day of this 
month had disposed of practically the whole of the 
. 1.050,000 acres in that district. Uncle Sam’s purse 
strings in the Lawton office are held by Receiver 
James D. Maguire. 

Receiver Lucien E. Kellogg of the Waterville dis¬ 
trict was a visitor at the Spokane office Wednesday 
and Thursday, and of course did not overlook Pub¬ 
lic Land on the way. 

Hon. P. M. Mullen has succeeded Daniel B. Mc¬ 
Cann as Register of the Rampart, Alaska, land office. 


The man who rises at five in the morning may 
burn more lamp wick than the man who rises at 
seven, but the odds are a button to a bettle that he 
doesn’t use half the ink in signing promissory notes. 

















PUBLIC LAND 



MISCELLANY. 


ANSWERS TO SUBSCRIBERS. 

Under this head complete answers will be given 
to subscribers’ questions concerning the public land 
of the United States. Name and address of each 
subscriber must be given with letter asking the 
question. 

A. J. McD :—I have been informed that there is a 
large territory to: be thrown open to settlement in 
Montana in the near future. Can you give me any 
definite information concerning it? 

Ans.—The district referred to is probably the 
Crow Indian Reservation. We do not have sufficient 
definite information at the present time to, warrant a 
publication of the statement. 


J. N. H., Washington :-^-If a person settles on 
surveyed Governnient land who has no homestead 
right* and another party files on. the same, does the 
settler have any specified time in which to remove 
his improvements, and if so, how much ? 

Ans.—The Land Department does not undertake 
to settle any disputes between settlers on Government 
land concerning the ownership of improvements. The 
man who went upon Government land without any 
right was a trespasser and could not therefore be re¬ 
cognized as having any specified time for the removal 
of his improvements. However there is a courtesy 
usually extended to such parties by those who make 
entry of lands under such circumstances, and a suffi¬ 
cient time is almost always allowed them for the re¬ 
moval of their crops and improvements. 

O. R. H., Wash.:—I wish to obtain a tract of va¬ 
cant Government timber land, will you inform me 
under what law I can do this, how much land I can 
get, and how much it will cost ? 

Ans.—You can get 160 acres, or less, at $2.50 per 
acre, with an additional cost of ten dollars for the 
Receiver’s final receipt, a like amount for advertising 
the notice and about two dollars for testimony fees, 
besides the expense of bringing two witnesses who 
are well acquainted with the land to testify in your 
behalf on the day set for proof. See Land Laws 
and Decisions, page 5. 

J. M. H., Washington r-—Can a soldier in the reg¬ 
ular service, who has no family, make homestead 
entry of lands, if so how must he proceed, and will 
establishment of residence be required, and how can 
it beeper formed? 

Ans.—No, he cannot, for the reason that he will 


7 

be required to establish actual residence on the land 
within six months from date of entry. This is deni¬ 
ed him by the duties of his position. This answer is 
based upon the case of Owen v. Lutz (14 L. D., 472, 
syl.), which reads as follows: 

“The provisions of section 2308, R. S., are not 
intended to include persons serving in the regular 
army since the close of the rebellion, and such service 
can not be held as equivalent to actual residence on 
a tract under the homestead law, or to relieve the en- 
tryman from the statutory requirements with respect 
to settlement, residence and improvement.” 


WE WANT TO KNOW. 

Under this head the publishers will ask a number 
of questions each week, and invite answers to them 
by any of our readers who may be interested in 1 the 
development of their districts. We wish it distinct¬ 
ly understood that the answers must be composed of 
facts, wholly freed from all fiction, and based upon 
the personal knowledge of the person answering 
the question. As an evidence of good faith always 
give full name and postoffice, but not for publication. 

The exact location of every oil well that has been 
made to flow since the first day of September, 1901. 
State the full names and post-office addresses of the 
owners; the depth at which the flow was struck, the 
amount of land owned or controlled by the parties 
controlling the well and the kind of formation passed 
through in reaching the oil flow. State also the dis¬ 
tance from the railroad and the reasonable estimated 
flow in gallons each twenty-four hours: 

The exact location of an unappropriated hot 
spring. Give full particulars as to method of reach¬ 
ing. the spring, distance from railroad and nearest 
town, description, of surrounding country, also of 
spring-with reference to amount of flow and charac¬ 
ter of water, and whether there is a cold-spring near 
at hand. 

One year’s subscription will be added to the credit 
of any subscriber who furnishes us absolutely cor¬ 
rect answers to any of the* above questions. 

Unstudied scientific books soon have for chums 
unbalance 5 account books. 

The farm hand with a Delmonico appetite seldom 
gets above being a barn - storming artist. 

Grain that is dead ripe on Friday maybe a dead 
loss on Monday. 

Nuts grow on trees for men but fall to the ground 
for hogs. 



















NOV 6 '901 

4EC0PV 


PUBLIC LAND 


8 


Land Offices and Officers of the United States. 


E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior Department, Washington, D. C. 
Binger Hermann, Commissioner General Land Office, Washington, 1). C 


Alabama— 

Huntsville. 

Montgomery. 

Alaska— 

Rampart. 

Sitka. 

St. Michael. 

Arizona— 

Prescott. 

Tucson. 

Arkansas— 

Camden. 

Dardanelle. 

Harrison. 

Little Rock. 

California— 

Eureka. 

Independence. 

Los Angeles. 

Marysville.. 

Redding. 

Sacraemnto. 

San Francisco ... 

Stockton. 

Susanville. 

Visalia. 

Colorado— 

Akron.. 

Del Norte. 

Denver. 

Durango. 

Gunnison. 

Glenwood Springs 

Hugo. 

Leadville. 

Lamar. 

Montrose. 

Pueblo... 

Sterling. 

Florida— 

Gainesville. 

Idaho— 

Blackfoot. 

Boise. 

Coeur d’Alene.... 

Hailey. 

Lewiston. 

Iowa— 

Des Moines. 

Kansas— 

Colby. 

Dodge City. 

Topeka. 

Wakeeny.. 

Louisiana— 

Natchitoches. 

New Orleans. 

Michigan— 

Marquette. 

Minnesota— 

Crookston. 

Duluth.. 

Marshall. 

St. Cloud. 

Mississippi— 

Jackson. 

Missouri— 

Boonville. 

Ironton. 

Springfield. 

Montana— 


REGISTER. 

John A. Steele. 

Robert Barker. 

P.M. NuUi n 

John W. Dudley. 

Franklin Moses. 

Fredrick A. Tritle, Jr.. 
Milton R. Moore.. 

Charles T. Duke..._ 

Joseph H. Battenfield.. 
Johnl. Worthington... 
Harry H. Myers... 

Henry A. Olesten. 

Stafford W. Austin... 
Angus J. Crookshank. 

Frank \V. Johnson_ 

Frank M. Swasey. 

Thomas Fraser. 

Aaron B. Hunt. 

John D. Maxey. 

Thomas S. Roseberry. 
Geo. W. Stewart. 

Peter Campbell. 

James H. Baxter. 

Charles D. Ford. 

Fredrick C. Perkins... 

Melvin A. Deering. 

John F. Squire. 

Lon E. Foote. 

Wat T. Beall. 

Willia mA. Merrill. 

James A. Layton. 

John R. Gordon. 

David C. Fleming. 

Walter G. Robinson... 

Lorenzo R. Thomas... 

James King. 

David H. Budlong- 

Neal J. Sharp. 

John B. West. 

Thornton S. Howard.. 

Kleber E. Wilcockson. 

Thomas A. Scates. 

George W. Fisher. 

Isaac T. Purcell —... 

J. Ernest Breda. 

Walter L. Cohen. 

Thomas Scadden. 

Sylvester Peterson.... 
William E. Culkin — 

Cyrus P. Shepard. 

Myron D. Taylor. 

James Hill. 

William H. Martin_ 

George Steel. 

Martin V. Gideon. 


RECEIVER. 
Herschel V. Cashin. 
John C. Leftwich. 

Wm. R. Edwards. 
Albert J. Apperson. 
Albert E. Rose. 

John C. Martin. 

John H. Bauman. 

Edward A. Shicker. 
John G. Chitwood. 
Felix S. Baker. 

John E. Bush. 

James F. Thompson. 
Frank E. Densmore. 
Arthur W. Kinney. 
Henry Malloch. 

Lloyd L. Carter. 
William A. Newcum 
Sargent S. Mortin. 
George A. McKenzie. 
Alfred H. Taylor. 
Othello Scribner. 

George W. Warner. 
Peter F. Barclay. 
Benjamin K Kimberly 
Daniel L. Sheets. 

Miss Martha C. Brown 
James W. Ross. 

John P. Dickinson. 
Fred Butler. 

C. Frost Liggett. 

John E. Pelton. 

John J. Lambert. 
Charles B. Timberlake 

Henry S. Chubb. 

George B. Rogers. 
Edward E. Garrett. 
Charles D. Warner. 
Wm. A. Hodgman. 
Charles H. Garby. 

Stephen J. Loughran. 

Cyrus Anderson. 

Lewis J. Pettijohn. 
Rudolph B. Welch. 
Frank W. King 

Charles J. Greene. 
Charles P. Johnston. 

John Jones. 

August F. George. 

Jay M. Smith. 
Christopher F. Case. 
Alva Eastman. 

George E. Matthews. 

Herman Schmidt. 

C. Sanford Russell. 
George A. Ramsey. 


Bozeman. 

Helena. 

Kalispell. 

Lewistown. 

Miles City. 

Missoula. 

Nebraska— 

Alliance. 

Broken Bow. 

Lincoln. 

McCook. 

North Platte.. 

O’Neill. 

Sidney. 

Valentine. 

Nevada— 

Carson City. 

New Mexico— 

Clayton. 

Las Cruces__ 

Roswell. 

Santa Fe. 

North Dakota— 

Bismarck. 

Devil’s Lake. 

Fargo. 

Grand Fonts. 

Minot. 

Oklahoma— 

Alva. 

*E1 Reno. 

Enid. 

Guthrie... 

Kingfisher. 

*Lawton. 

Mangum. 

Oklahoma. 

Perry. 

Woodward. 

Oregon— 

Burns. 

La Grande. 

Lakeview.,. 

Oregon City. 

Roseburg. 

The Dalles. 

South Dakota— 

Aberdeen. 

Chamberlain. 

Huron. 

Mitchell. 

Pierre. 

Rapid City. 

Watertown. 

Utah- 

Salt Lake City... 

Washington- 
North Yakima.... 

Olympia. 

Seattle. 

Spokane. 

Vancouver. 

Walla Walla. 

W r aterville...:. 

Wisconsin— 

Ashland. 

Eau Claire. 

Wyoming— 

Buffalo. 

Cheyenne. 

Evanston. 

Douglas. 

Lander. 


Albert L. Love. 

George D. Greene. 

Frank H. Nash_ 

Edward Brassey... 

Samuel Gordon. 

Elmer E. Hershey. 


Fred M. Dorrington... 

James Whitehead. 

Joseph W. Johnson_ 

Francis M. Rathbun.. 

George E. French. 

Stephen J. Weekes_ 

Robley D. Harris..... 
James C. Pettijohn_ 

Oliver H. Gallup. 


Edward W. Fox. 
Emil Solignac.... 
Howard Leland.. 
Manuel R. Otero. 


Alex. C. McGillivray.. 

Ole Serumgard. 

Charles N. Valentine. 

Ernest H. Kent. 

Thomas E. Olsgard... 

Robert A. Cameron... 


James B. Cullison_ 

John Boles. 

Emory D. Brownlee., 
llenn D. McNight., 

John A. Trotter. 

Seymour S. Price. 

Alfred H. Boles. 

Frank D. Healy. 


Andrew J. Edsall. 
John Horsky. 

William C. Whipps. 
Louis W. Eldridge. 
James M. Rhoades. 
William O. Ranft. 

William R. Akers. 
Prank H. Young. 
Thomas P. Kennard. 
Joel A. Piper. 

Prank Bacon. 

Richard H. Jenness. 
James L.McIntosh, Jr 
Albert L. Towle. 

David H. Hall. 

Albert W. Thompson. 
Henry D. Bowman. 
David L. Geyer. 
Edward F. Hobart. 

John Satterlund. 
Henry E. Baird. 
DeWitt C. Tufts. 
Christian L. Lindstrom 
Abner L. Hanscom. 

William J. French. 


George W. Hayes. 

Edward W. Bartlett.. 

Eldon M. Brattain_ 

Charles B. Moores_ 

Joseph T. Bridges_ 

Jay P. Lucas. 


John S. Vetter. 

William V. Lucas.. 
Charles A. Blake... 
George E. Foster.. 
Albert Wheelon.... 
George P. Bennett. 
Lee Stover. 


Frank D. Hobbs. 


Walter J. Reed. 

Frank G. Deckebach. 
Edward P. Tremper.. 

William H. Ludden_ 

William R. Dunbar... 

John M. Hill. 

Matthew B. Malloy_ 


August Doenitz. 

Alfred Cypreansen.... 


Prince A. Gatchell_ 

William E. Chaplin... 

Charles Kingston. 

Albert D. Chamberlain. 

William T. Adams_ 

Sundance. 'Alpha E. Hoyt. 

^Officers that have just been established to 
from the_Kiowa and Comanche reservations. 


David W. Eastman. 
Fredrick E. McKinley. 
Jacob V. Admire, 
tames D. Maguire. 

John A. Oliphant. 
Anton H. Classen. 

Joel R. Scott. 

John W. Miller. 

Charles Newell. 
Samuel O. Swackhamer 
Harry Bailey. 

William Galloway. 
James H. Booth. 

Otis Patterson. 

Frank A. Brown. 
Charles L. Brockway. 
John Westdahl. 
Thomas C. Burns. 
Henry E. Cutting. 
William S. Warner. 
George W. Case. 

George A. Smith. 

Miles Cannon. 

John O’B. Scobey. 
Columbus T. Tyler. 
Samuel A. Wells. 

Lynn B. Clough. 
Thomas Mosgrove. 
Lucien E. Kellog. 

Duportal G. Sampson 
Alexander Meggett. 

Ephraim H. Smock. 
Edward A. Slack. 
Frank M. Foote. 
Merris C. Barrow. 

Mrs. Minnie Williams. 
Samuel A. Young, 
accomodate the business 


Club Offer. 


flew Opportunities for Vou and 
Vour Triends. * * * * « 


GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA. 


For a limited time “PUBLIC LAND” will be sent to five 
different addresses when sent in by one person for five dollars. 

Each issue of “PUBLIC LAND” will contain more of value 
to the subscriber interested in public land matters than the full 
price of the year’s subscription. Some will receive a hundred 
times more. Get your friends to subscribe now. Send all re¬ 
mittances whenever possible bv Post Office or Express Money 
rder, mite pa/ible ti “PUBLIC LAND.” 
ffice 124-25 Auditorium Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


1,400,000 acres of vacant unappropriated Govern¬ 
ment land is the amount still left in the Gainesville 
district. Register Walter G. Robinson of that dis¬ 
trict reports it as nearly all being classed as low pine 
land, having a growth of yellow pine. The soil is 
sandy and when cleared can be used for raising the 
ordinary crops, as well as for fruit and vegetables. 





















































































































































































































ADVERTISEMENTS. 


“PUBLIC 

LAND” 

has made several of its readers over 

$5QO 

By bringing opportunities to their 
notice which they would not have 
learned in any other way. There 
are many more of these- 

$500 

pieces in store for those who read 

“PUBLIC 

LAND” 

There will be more opportunities 
than you can possibly use, so just 
speak to four of your friends about 
subscribing and take advantage 
of our clubbing offer on page 8. 


ATTEND THE 

Puget Sound Business College 

for a practical, up-to-date business course. 
Bookkeeping, penmanship, stenography 
and typewriting. Send ten cents for sam¬ 
ple dozen cards and how you can earn 
some money during spare time. Address 
D. M. KNAUF, Principal, 902 Yakima ave., 
Tacoma, Wash. 

0. W. KENNEDY, 

Livery Stables, 

Gentle Driving Horses. Good Drivers to 
show you the land you want to see. 
Everything first class. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 

DOUGLAS HOTEL, 

William Newlove, Prop., 

AMERICAN PLAN. 

$1.00 and $1.60 Per Day. 

Prompt, Neat, Clean Service. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 

WILSON CREEK LIVERY STABLE 
R. J. Armstrong, Prop. 

GOOD HORSES, GOOD RIGS, GOOD 
DRIVERS, FIRST CLASS 
SERVICE. 

WILSON CREEK. WASHINGTON. 

CLAIR HUNT, 

Civil Engineer 
U. S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor. 

B0SSBURG, - - WASHINGTON. 


INLAND PRINTING COMPANY, 

610-612 Sprague Ave. 

Print Anything. Try us with your 
next order. 

It will save you money. 

M. L. SCHERMERH0RN, 
United States Commissioner 


There’s lots of good Vacant Agricultural Land 
tributary to 

LIND, . - - WASHINGTON 


WENTWORTH CLOTHING GO. 

Reliable Mens’ and 
Boys’ Outfitters. 

709-11 Riverside Ave. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 


J. W. MeCUNE, 

Farm and City Property For Sale 
or Exchange. 

MONEY TO LOAN. 

7-8 Sherwood Bile. SPOKANE, WASH. 


john mcdowell, 

United States Commissioner and 
Justice of the Peace. 


Gold Butte, Mont. 


EC S. Swenson, Clyde C. Henxon, 

United States Commissioner. Notary Public 

SWENSON & HENION, 

Timber and Agricultural Lands. Homestead 
and timber locations. Agents townsite of New¬ 
port. 

Publishers of NEWPORT MINER, $i. 5 o'per year, 
NEWPORT, WASHINGTON. 


Advertise 


m 


“PUBLIC 


LAND.” 





































Walton & Goodsell, Land Attorneys 



«~a~a-*-a-*-a-*-a-*-a~a-*-a~a-*-a-*-a-*-a-«-a-»-a-*-a-*-aa-»a-«-a-*-a-*-a-*-a-*-a-*-a-*-a-*-a-*-a~a-*-a-*-a-**a-*-a-*-a-*-a'»-» 


Leave of absence from your Homestead. Applications to 
amend your Homstead and making of all papers pertaining to 
Public Lands. Contests, protests and other bearings before 
any U. S. Land Office. The Commissioner of the General 
Land Office and the Interior Department. Mining Applica¬ 
tions. Military Bounty Land Warrants. Forest Reserve, 
Soldier’s Additional Homestead, and all other Land Scrips 
bought and sold. We can get your tangles straightened with¬ 
out your coming to the office 


Office Rooms 124-25 Auditorium Block, Phone Main 369 

L ——----- ^ |Z>C 3 1 c ane, igton ^ 


I 



This will introduce the Northwestern Busi- j 
slS|| ik H || KwSJ LwJkS ness College to readers of Public Land. The i 

purpose of this advertisement is to induce the \ 
, Ml 1 f I public to investigate the merits of the institution, ! 

1 for on MERIT we build. \ 


Its students hold United States records for 
proficiency in Civil Service and Bookkeeping. 

FIVE COURSES OF STUDY. 

Shorthand and Typewriting, Civil Service, Busi¬ 
ness, Normal, and Telegraphy. 

For detailed information call at the office or 
send for catalogue. 


I ^ SPOKANE, WASH. 

^'►^••■a~a-*a~a~a-«-a-*-a-*-a~a-*-a-*-a-»-a~a-«~a~a-*-a-*-a*a-«-a-*-a-*-a-*-a-*-a-*-a-*-a-*-a~a~a-*-a-*-a-*-a-*-a-*'a~a-*-a- 

















77M£/?/5 W£#0P£ Of r//£/MT/Ott. 



© 


PVBLISHED 


WEEKLY. 


8EV0TED TO THOSE 
INTERESTED IIW 
THE PVBLIC UArtUS 

—"'Of —' 


THE VniTED STATES 


mmmmmmm 


$1.50 PER YEAR 

m advaiice. 


9 


-f 


Vol. i. No. 11. 


Spokane, Wash., Oct. 29 , 1901 . 


Single Copies, 10 Cents 



CON'TENTS 


Editorial— 
Warning. 


Current Topics— 

Penny Wise, Pound Foolish, 


Minerals and Timber— 

Mining. 3 

Hailey, Idaho. 3 

Pueblo Colorado District. 3 


New Opportunities— 

One Hundred Fine Homesteads 
in the Big Bend Country in the 


State of Washington. 4 

Rapid City, South Dakota...... 4 


Land Laws and Decisions— 

False Statements Before Land 

Officers.,. 5 

Homestead Entry. Act of June 

5 5 190 °. 5 


Miscellany— 

We Want to Know. 6 

A Big Rush for Land. 6 

Surveys Newly Made*. 6 

Answers to Subscribers. 7 

Land Offices and Officers of the 
United States (corrected).... 8 













































ADVERTISEMENTS 


JOSEPH HUDSON SHORT, 

Attorney at Law 
and 

United States Commissioner, 


VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI. 

ROLLIN J. REEVES, 


United States Commissioner, 


WILBUR, WASHINGTON. 

ALFRED THOMPSON, 
Attorney at Law, Notary Public, 
U. S. Court Commissioner, 

Real Estate, Loans, Abstracts, 

ELI MAIN ST., OLYMPIA, WASH. 

SIDNEY MOOR HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

In and for District of Washington. 


HOQUIAM, WASHINGTON. 


H. G. LAKE, B. S., B. S. D., L. L. D., 

Attorney and Counsellor at Law, 
U. S. Commissioner, Notary Public. 

Land Scrip of all kinds. 

School Land selections made. 

JOSEPH, OREGON. 


A. R. SWANSON, 

United States Commissioner, 

Notary Public, Loans! 
and Collections—Conveyancer 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 


CUMMING BROS. & POWELL, 
Choice Timber and Homestead Loca¬ 
tions on Government Land. 

TIMBER CRUISED AND ESTIMATES GIVEN 

Fruit, grazing and ranch lands aad pin* and 
cedar timber for sale. 

801* Riverside Ave. SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


T. D. HASTIE, 

Attorney at Law, 

U. S. Court Commissioner. 

Homestead Filings and Final Proofs. 
OROFINO, IDAHO. 

ORIN H. WOODS, 
Surveyor and U. S. Commissioner. 

Land Filings and Final Proofs. 
Ditches Surveyed and Recorded. 

BASIN, WYOMING. 

JNO. JAS. GRAVES, 

Justice of the Peace, Notary Public. 
Conveyancer, Real Estate, 

MEYERS FALLS. WASHINGTON. 

FRED’K J. HOAGLAND, 


Attorney at Law, 


ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 

C. H. HOLDEN, 

Attorney at Law. 

Choice timber lands in large or small 
tracts. Timber land cruised and estimates 
given. Government lands located. Fruit 
lands. Ranch land. Grazing land for sale. 
Climate unsurpassed; no cold, no heat, 
lands, ranch land, grazing land for sale, 
no cyclones. Correspondence solicited. 

FLORENCE, OREGON. 

J. W. MARSHALL, 
Attorney at Law. 

Practice in all the Courts. 
vn Auditorium Blk., BPOKANU, WASH. 


HOMES FOR THE HOMESEEKERS 

LANDS FOR THE LANDLESS. 

We have a large list of the choicest 
farming lands in the Big Bend and 
throughout the Inland Empire. Improved 
farms $15 to $20 per acre. This is the sec¬ 
tion that produces 30,000,000 bushels of 
wheat per annum. Fine fruit; no failures; 
ideal climate. Money placed for non-resi¬ 
dents on first mortgages on first cl&M 
land. Trantum & Schoonover, Odessa,Wn. 


J. B. ZIEGLER, 

Notary Public, Real Estate and Fire 
Insurance Age at. 


IMPROVED FARM LANDS, RAW 
LANDS AND TOWN PROPER¬ 
TIES FOR SALE. 


Prices and Terms will be Furnished 
Promptly. 


Office on First Avenue. 


ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 



Qniokly secured. OUR FES DUE WHEN PATENT 
OBTAINED. Send mode!, Eketeh or photo, with 
description for free report .is to patentability. 48-PAGE 
HAND-BOOK FREE. Contains references and fall 
information. WHITE FOB. COPY OF OUR SPECIAL 
OFFER. Itis the most liberal proposition evermade by 
a patent attorney, and EVERY INVENTOR SHOULD 
READ IT beforo applying for patent. Addreu: 

H.B. WILLSON &C0. 


PATENT LAWYERS, 

l« Droit Bldg., WASHINGTON, D. C. 



Free Homesteads. 


There are over 100 good quarter sections with 
in short distance of the Great. Northern Railroad 
that are subject to homostead entry, the same 
kind of la nd that produced 40 bushels of wheat 
to the acre this year. We have an accurate 
knowledge of these vacant tracts and will locate 
desirable parties on them at very reasonable 
rates. Call on 


H. E. STONE, 

With O. W. Stone Undertaking Co. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON 


Sec our Clubbing Offer ij 
on Eighth Page. 





















































*THfc LIBRARY OF 
, - CONGRESS, 

One Copy Received 

NOV. 4 1901 

Copyright entry 
CLASS XXo. No. 

eorr a. 


PUBLIC LAND. 


r//fWP£ of r//f/y/irm 



Offices 124-125 Auditorium Bldg., Spokane, Wash. 


ADVKKTISING I^ATKS ON APPLICATION. 
Entered at Spokane, Wash., as Second Class Mail Matter. 
Copyrighted 1901 by Walton & Goodsell. 

Vol. 1 . Spokane, Wash., Oct 29, 1901. No. 11. 


WARNING. 

The hundreds of professional men, mechanics, 
clerks, school teachers and others, who have made 
homestead entry of public land should take notice of 
the fact that their residence in town with their fami¬ 
lies is not “RESIDENCE TO THE EXCLUSION 
OF ONE ELSEWHERE” on their homestead 
claims. And that if they really want the land em¬ 
braced in their homestead entries, they should move 
out to their claims at once if their six months from 
date of entry has expired. Men are anxious for 
homes and when they see a good tract of land which 
has been filed on for more than six months and is not 
being resided upon, you may rest assured that it 
won’t take long for them to initiate a contest. There 
are many cases where the financial condition of the 
entrymen have changed since their date of entry and 
who feel that they cannot afford to earn title by liv¬ 
ing on the land, but who are still anxious to retain it. 
In such cases there is a clean straightforward way out 
of the difficulty and that is by the location of one of 
the various kinds of script upon the land entered. 

Some entrymen'have made settlement and spent 
all their money for improvements on the land and 
must of necessity go away from the land to earn 
money for their support and further improvement of 
their claim. Others find it necessary to leave on 
account of illness, total failure of crops, forest fires, 
grasshopper incursions and “other unavoidable cau- 
calty.” In all of such cases the entry-man is entitled 
to a leave of absence from his land for as much as 
one year at a time if necessary. 

There is no necessity therefore for any one los¬ 
ing his claim who is willing to act in good faith, anc 


i 


makes intelligent use of the means which the govern¬ 
ment has provided for every exigency that may pos¬ 
sibly happen. 


487918 strangers immigrated to the United States 
during the fiscal year. The prosperity of the United 
States is doubtless accountable for this great exodus 
from the “Fatherland” and who can say that when 
the report of the enormous crops of the Western 
States gets across the water that it will not result in 
bringing twice that number to our shores during the 
next twelve months. It behooves those having rich 
opportunities at their very dooryards to appropriate 
them while they can. With the pulsing of each heart 
beat some man loses an opportunity that would have 
assisted in bringing him comfort and success. Hund¬ 
reds of men who want Government land are allowing 
opportunities to slip by every day and who never 
seem to get woke up to their necessities until carried 
away by some sweeping excitement like that which 
usually precedes the opening of an Indian Reserva¬ 
tion. 


The men interested in the development of the 
Inland Empire should complete arrangements for 
united action in the matter of opening the South 
Half of the Colville Indian Reservation in the State 
of Washington to settlement under the general land 
laws, and to the removal of the $1.50 per acre clause 
of the North Half. 


The Montana delegation is going to urge the 
passage of the bill throwing the Crow Indian Reser- 
vat ion open to settlement. 

There are over a dozen other Indian Reserva¬ 
tions in the western states that should be made small¬ 
er and there is no reason why the delegation from the 
western states should not unite in a movement to 
settle their states with live, energetic people who 
would make nature produce abundantly and by so 
doing add millions of wealth to this nation. 

The National delegations in Congress from the 
public land states should have every encouragement 
which their constituencies can give them, and every 
person who has an interest, present or prospective, 
should put his shoulder to the wheel and work Now. 
Do not think the matter will be carried by your 
friends for they may be relying on you to attend to 
the matter for them. If you are acquainted with 
your Congressmen or Senators, write them, and ask 
their support of the measure, or in some way indi¬ 
cate to them that you want such a bill passed. 








































2 


PUBLIC LAND. 


CURRENT TOPICS. 


“PENNY WISE, POUND FOOLISH.” 

Many exemplifications of this proverb can be 
found in the history of land transactions. Men for 
some reason or other appear to believe that “Uncle 
Sam” is not only the most generous old uncle in ex¬ 
istence, but that he is always looking over the rim 
of his spectacles whenever they are playing at the 
little tricks they resort to in their attempts to acquire 
title to Government land under one or more of the 
various laws, without manifesting that good faith 
which in fact is the chief element of the' transaction, 
so far as they are concerned. 

In the public land states where there is vacant 
land to be had bv appropriation under the various 
laws, about one-half of the entries are made by men 
and women who practice the most foolish sort of 
economy. They make entry of an hundred and sixty 
acre tract under the homestead law; this law requires 
them to establish their residence on the land, to the 
exclusion of one elsewhere, within six months from 
date. The majority of them do absolutely nothing 
on their claims until the arrival of the last day, of 
the six months which is allowed them for getting 
their land in an habitable condition; then they hurry 
around, hunt up the man with the job wagon, have 
him go to the lumber yard in time to load up a few 
hundred feet of lumber before the yard closes for 
the day; then one or two “saw and hatchet“ carpen¬ 
ters are hunted up to be sent out with the load of 
lumber on the following morning. A second-hand 
cook-stove, which is thought to be too worthless to 
warrant being carried off, a few tin plates and a fry¬ 
ing pan with the handle broken off, a few iron knives, 
forks and spoons in an empty lard bucket, constitut¬ 
ing-cooking utensils; an old blanket on its way to 
the carpet rags, with a new 75-cent comfortable, 
with perhaps an old straw tick, and an extra bunch 
of bailed hay, answer for the bedding, and the pro¬ 
visions, include fried chicken, potato salad and mince 
pie (for one meal) and a side of rusty bacon and a 
half sack of flour. These numerous LITTLE arti¬ 
cles with the entry man’s wife (if he had the good 
judgment to get one) with the carpenters start for 
the claim, which is probably reached about nine or 
ten o’clock. Active operations are begun at once 
and by perhaps 12 130 smoke can be seen rolling from 
the roof of the mushroom mansion.. A visitor there 
could detect the strong odor of coffee and on 
closer examination would see that the empty lard 


bucket had risen to the proud distinction of coffee 
pot. Dinner is had and the sci aps left from the din¬ 
ner to go to “Towser” and the scraps from the build¬ 
ing into beadstead, table and bench. “Residence 
has been established on the homestead to the exclu¬ 
sion of one elsewhere,” so all can now return to-town 
and home, a nice picnic has been had, and thoroughly 
enjoyed by all. Little more is thought of the “home¬ 
stead” (with the exception of having a little 
plowing done) for over a fortnight, when another 
picnic is planned and the settler again resides ( ?) 011 
the homestead for a few hours. These picnics are 
repeated until lo and behold the enjoyment is all taken 
out of the last visit, for the party no sooner reach 
the door of the mush roon mansion than they read 
“CONTEST NOTICE” printed in bold headlines on 
a strip of paper which informs them that John Doe 
has filed a contest against the settlers entry the day 
before and that in a few weeks they must appear at 
the Land Office and show cause why they should lose 
the land. Attorneys are hired, the picnics are thor¬ 
oughly aired and at length the Secretary of the In¬ 
terior Department decides that “occasional visits to 
the land do not meet the requirements of the home¬ 
stead law.” This man who built his house on the 
unsafe foundation has done himself an almost irre¬ 
parable injury, for he has lost a right which only an 
act of Congress can restore, and in addition to the 
loss, of the money paid' for filing fees, costs of im¬ 
provements. and attorney’s fees in defending the. 
entrv, has lost an opportunity which, if properly used; 
would have placed himself and family in a position 
of independence, where he 1 could have acquired for 
them the necessities as well as many comforts and 
perhaps luxuries of life. The class referred to is 
largely made up of the professional and business men 
of every small town, in every locality where there is 
vacant land to be had, who if they practice the same 
careless methods in their business affairs would 
search in vain for a receiver in a twelvemonth. 


The friends of the proposed grazing land bill 
are at work in earnest. They are urging their 
friends to assist them in bringing the matter to 'the 
notice of the county officers and other influential 
men. This is- work along the right lines, and only 
united effort will secure successful results in this 
direction. The movement is a new one and while 
all admit the necessity of a law of this kind, oppo¬ 
sition will be met that can only be overcome, by hard 
fighting. 






PUBLIC LAND. 


3 


MINERALS AND TIMBER. 


MINING. 

While in gome localities there is more or less 
excitement over the strong indications for the dis¬ 
covery of oil in paying quantities, the. business of oil 
mining is going forward at a rapid gait, and the com¬ 
panies operating in that line are taking up an 
amount of money that will more than equal the gold 
output of Alaska. Many of the companies are al¬ 
ready paying dividends and the capital which had 
been planted in the earth in the form of a round hole, 
one to two thousand feet deep and well cased, is now 
bearing fruit. The majority of the companies how¬ 
ever, are still in the experimental stage, and 
no doubt mamy of them will fail of profitable results. 
The chief danger presented by the methods of oil 
operators today is that they are attempting to ac¬ 
quire title to, or control of too much land,and by so 
doing they not only prevent the development of their 
districts by keeping out strong operators, but by at¬ 
tempting to handle so much idle land, the capital of 
the company is diverted from the development of a 
reasonable amount of land, to the purchase of an 
amount that really prevents placing any of it on a 
..producing basis. 

In the meantime, the development of the solid 
mineral deposits has maintained its gradual ratio of 
increase and every tick of the clock finds the United 
States proportionately richer than it was a moment 
before. 

The Beaumont .Oil Company, which has large 
holdings in the Texas Oil Fields, is now beginning 
operations near Vale, Oregon. 

J. H. Meikle and A. W. Thayer of Baker City, 
recently located i ,400 acres of choice land in the 
Vale, Oregon, oil basin. 

The Hanauer oil property near Spokane, Wash ¬ 
ington, will liave a complete ten inch oil rig at work 
in a few days. This rig was purchased, from. the 
Vancouver company which has suspended operations 
for the present. 

Jack Clark, while herding horses on Rock Creek 
near Hailey, Idaho, recently discovered a five foot 
ledge of gold bearing ore that has an assay value of 
$37 to the ton. There are nearly two hundred tons of 
this ore in sight. 

The Bossburg, Washington, oil and natural gas 


fields are growing larger every day. Messrs. House, 
Pringle, Leblank and Drisooll are reported to have 
made leases of their land to the Bossburg company. 

The Texas legislature has closed many wells in 
that state by placing a two per cent tax on the gross 
earnings of the companies operating there. 

A large number of coal entries are being made 
in the vicinity of Minot, North Dakota. 

The stampede to the Candle Creek g. >ld fields in 
Alaska has ended — every foot of ground that could 
possibly have any reason for being mineral has been 
siaked. It promises to be a marvel, good pay has 
been discovered on about thirty of the claims, and a 
town of considerable importance will be located there 
before winter gets set in. 


HAILEY, IDAHO. 

There are thousands of acres of unappropriated 
timber land in the northern part of Blaine and the 
southern part of Custer counties, in the Sawtooth 
district. The timber on the south side of the divide 
can be driven down the Big Wood river and its tribu¬ 
tary to Ketchum, the terminus of the spur on the Ore¬ 
gon Short Line, and the timber on the north side 
of the divide can be driven down the head waters of 
the Salmon River. There is a radius of about sixty 
miles square, ranging from townships four to four¬ 
teen and range fourteen to twenty-four, whose tim¬ 
ber has practically remained untouched. Much of 
this land is known to be rich in minerals, and Regis¬ 
ter Neal J. Sharp of the Hailey Office has inf ormed 
us that a fine body of coal is being opened up in 
Lemhi county, on the south bank of Jesse Creek, 
which is a branch of the Lemhi River. The business 
done in the Hailey Office during the past year, was 
greatly in excess of any other for the past eight years. 


PUEBLO COLORADO DISTRICT. 

1,000,000 acres of timber land are left unappro¬ 
priated in the Pueblo, Colorado', land district, al¬ 
though a considerable quantity of this amount is in 
the rich mineral belts-and would not therefore be 
subject to appropriation under the Timber and Stone 
law. 

Register John R. Gordon of that office says that 
there still remains vacant about 5,000,000 acres of, 
perhaps, a greater variety of lands than can be found 
in any other district. Settlers looking for farming, 
grazing, fruit or coal, or other mineral lands can all 
find what they desire. 




















4 


PUBLIC LAND. 


NEW OPPORTUNITIES, 

ONE HUNDRED FINE HOMESTEADS IN 
THE BIG BEND COUNTRY IN THE 
STATE OF WASHINGTON. 

There are at least one hundred excellent home¬ 
stead claims in Lincoln and Adams Counties in. the 
State of Washington that can be had by any one 
who wishes to go to the small expense of a contest. 
The claims referred to are those that have been taken 
by men who are either in business in the towns 
throughout the district referred to or are employed 
in the different towns in the various occupations. All 
that is necessary to be done in order to find these 
claims is to decide on the particular locality in which 
you wish to settle, then make a canvass of the busi¬ 
ness man, ask 'them where their homestead claim is, 
then go and make an examination of the claim, 
make inquiries of the settlers living near it, as to 
where the particular man lives who claims the land 
adjoining theirs, and you will find that lie lives On a 
certain street in the town where you first found the 
business man, and when you look up his town resi¬ 
dence you will find the coal shed at such town resi¬ 
dence to be in better condition of repair than his 
“house” was on the homestead. 

Besides these there are a great many excellent 
tracts that were entered a number of years ago under 
the old timber culture law as well as the homestead 
law, where the entrymen for various reasons have 
wholly abandoned the land, have left the country and 
many have died. The entry in these cases must ne¬ 
cessarily run out the full term of seven or eight years 
as the case may be in homestead entries, and thirteen 
years where the land was entered under the timber 
culture law, unless notice of such abandonment is 
brought to the Department in the form of a contest. 
Heretofore there have been but very few contests, 
except in cases where the value of the improvmnts 
made it an object to do so, as there has been so much 
good land to be had all over this particular district, 
that there was no necessity for bringing a contest. 
The conditions have changed very materially during 
the past few months, and while there are still hun¬ 
dreds of good claims in the Big Bend district that are 
vacant and subject to entry under the homestead law. 
the country is being rapidly settled and the producing 
value of the land has been so thoroughly demon¬ 
strated that a very strong demand has grown up for 
the land. Several parties have sold out their relin¬ 
quishments for the land during the past few days, 


and have received all the way to $ 1,500 for doing 
so. These were cases too where there was not to ex¬ 
ceed one hundred dollars worth of improvements on 
the claim. These claims are worth looking up now. 


RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA. 

More heavy rains have fallen on this land district 
during the past season than has accured before in 
years, and as a result parties are now taking up land 
that was heretofore thought to be too dry for agri¬ 
cultural purposes. The following quarterly state¬ 
ment from that office will indicate the opportunities 
that are still left in that district: 


Name of County 

Area in Acres Unappropi- 
ated and Unreserved. 

Unsur-| 

Surveyed veyed. | Total. 

Area in 
Acres 
reserved 

Acres 

Appro¬ 

priated. 

Area of 
County in 
District. 

Butte . 

Custer .I 

Fall River ...,| 

Lawrence . 

Mead . 

Pennington ...| 
Shannon .I 

1 4,528,947[.| 4,528,947 

291,735| 129,277| 421,012| 

693,7381 8,1001 701,838 

4,586 . 4,586! 

I 1,556,806|. 1,556,806 

797,213 | 59,8101 857,023 

|~.7T 

339 1 8 40 

I 1 330,240 
50,395 
| 453,120 

| 688,000 
704,0001 
2.565,595 1 

| 509,053 

240,148 
411,162 
183,174 
641,799 
442,857 

i 

| 5,038,000 
1,001,000 
1,113,000 
518,000 
2,249,000 
1,753,000 
688,000 
?2',000 
13,18 L, 030 

Washington ...| 
Total .1 

. |' 109,644 1' 109,6441 

| 7,873,025| 306,831) 8,179,856 

7.356 

2,435,549 


Character of land, Butte, Agricultural and Graz¬ 
ing; Custer, Agricultural Grazing, Rough, Timber¬ 
ed and Mineral; Fall River, Agricultural and Graz- 
ing, partly rough and timbered; Lawrence, Agricul¬ 
tural, mostly hilly and mountainous, Mineral and 
timbered; Meade, Agricultural and Grazing, partly 
Mountanious, Mineral and Timbered; Shannon, 
Pine Ridge Indian Reservation; Washington, Agri¬ 
cultural and Grazing, partly Indian Reservation. 

Butte County embraces all lands formerly in Butte, 
Haring, Ewing, Martin, Wagner, Choteau and Rine¬ 
hart Counties. Mead County embraces the land for¬ 
merly in Mead, Scobey and Delano Counties. Pen¬ 
nington County embraces also Ziebach County. 

Of the 8,179,856 acres of vacant land in this dist¬ 
rict, it is estimated that about 2 per cent is timbered; 
13 per cent agricultural, about 25 per cent arid and 
about 60 per cent is grazing land. The above state¬ 
ment includes all lands entered, excepting Mineral 
lands during the year ending June 30, 1901. There 
were, approximately, 4132 acres of mineral lands 
applied for or appropriated by mineral application 
for patent. Of this acreage 3908 were in Lawrence 
Co., 853 acres in Pennington and 371 in Custer. 

The man who makes judicious invesments of the 
concentrated capital in his arm soon has concentrated 
muscle in the form of a bank account. 





































PUBLIC LAND. 


5 


LAND LAWS AND DECISIONS. 

FALSE STATEMENTS BEFORE LAND 
OFFICERS. 


REVISED STATUTES OF THE UNITED 
STATES. TITLE LXX. CRIMES, 
CHAP. 4. 

Sec. 5392. Every person who, having taken 
an oath before a competent tribunal, officer, or per¬ 
son, in any case in which a law of the United States 
authorities and oath to be administered, that he will 
testify, declare, depose, or certify truly, or that any 
written testimony, declaration, deposition, or certifi¬ 
cate by him subscribed is true, willfully and contrary 
to such oath states or subscribes any material matter 
which he does not believe to be true, is guilty of per¬ 
jury, and chall be punished by a fine of not more than 
two thousand dollars, and by imprisonment, at hard 
labor, not more than five years, and shall, moreover, 
thereafter be incapable of giving testimony in any 
court of the United States until such time as the 
judgment against him is reversed.” 


HOMESTEAD ENTRY. ACT OF JUNE 5, 
1900. 

Samuel F. Honeycutt. 

' “A homestead entryman who failed to perfect 
title under his entry, and thereafter made a second 
entry under the Act of March 2, 1S89, which second 
entry was also not perfected, but “lost or forfeited,” 
was by the act of June 5, 1900, restored to the status 
of a qualified homestead claimant and became enti¬ 
tled to the benefits of the homestead law's as though 
the second entry had not been made. 
SECRETARY HITCHCOCK TO THE COM¬ 
MISSIONER OF THE GENERAL 
LAND OFFICE. 

(W. V. D.) July 15, i 9 QI - (‘ c J- G *) 

October 18, 1900, Samuel F. Honeycutt made 
homestead entry under section 3 of the act of June 5 > 
1900 (31 Statt, 267), for the E. of the NE. % 
the SW. Yx of the NE. J 4 and NE. l A the SE - 
Vt of Sec." 17, T. 20 N., R. 19 W., Harrison, Arkan¬ 
sas. land district. 

April 20, 1901, your office held said entry for 
cancellation on the ground that said act of June 5, 


1900, does not provide for a third privilege, it ap¬ 
pearing that Honeycutt had ■ previously made two 
homestead entries as follows: January 24, 1879, 
for the E. 54 NE. % the SW. *4 of the NE. J 4 and 
the SE. Sec. 17 T. 20 N. R., 19 W. canceled upon 
relinquishment January 16, 1879; and January 13, 
1891, under section 2 of. the act of March 2, 1889 
(25 Stat. 854), for the S. J 4 of the SW. Sec. 4 
and the N. of the NW. f 4 Sec. 9, T. 17 N., R. 
16 W. canceled upon relinquishment April 21, 1898. 
The case is here on appeal. Said section 3 of the 
act of June 5, 1900, SUPRA, provides: 

That any person who prior to the passage of 
this act has made entry under the homestead laws, 
but from any cause has lost or forfeited the same 
shall be entitled to the benefits of the homestead laws 
as though such former entry had not been made. 

The act deals with the status of the applicant 
under the homestead laws at the date of its passage, 
and the inquiry raised by an application under said 
act is whether the applicant is a person who prior to 
the passage thereof has made an entry under the 
homestead laws which from any cause lie has lost or 
forfeited. If he Is found to be such a person then lie 
is “entitled to the benefits of the homestead laws as 
though such former entry had not been made.” 

That applicant herein originally made entry 
under the homestead laws but failed to perfect title 
thereunder. By the provisions of the second section 
of the act of March 2, 1889, SUPRA, Being a “per¬ 
son who has not heretofore perfected title to a tract 
of land which he has made entry under the home¬ 
stead law,” he was entitled to make another entry 
“such previous filing or entry to the contrary not¬ 
withstanding.” The entry originally made, but not 
perfected, was, under the act of March 2, 1889, to be 
regarded as never having been made so far as the 
rights of the applicant are concerned. The same is 
true, since the passage of the act of June 5, 1900, 
SUPRA, of the entry made under the act of March 
2, 1889, which was also not perfected but “lost or 
forfeited.” So that if at the time of making that en¬ 
try the applicant was rightfully entitled to make the 
same under the homestead laws, and the fact that the 
entry was allowed indicates that he was so entitled, 
he was by the act of June 5, 1900, restored to the 
status of a qualified homestead claimant and became 
entitled to the benefits of the homestead laws as 
though the last named entry had not been made. 

The judgment of your office is reversed and 
Honeycutt’s entry will be held intact subject to com¬ 
pliance with law.” 










6 


PUBLIC LAND. 


MISCELLANY. 


WE WANT TO KNOW. 

Under this head the publishers will ask a number 
of questions each week, and invite answers to them 
by any of our readers who may be interested in the 
development of their districts. We wish it distinct¬ 
ly understood that the answers must be composed of 
facts, wholly freed from all fiction, and based upon 
the personal knowledge of the person answering 
the question. As an evidence of good faith always 
give full name and postoffice, but not for publication. 

The name and postoffice address of any person 
in the United States who lias raised and sold $300 
worth of turkeys during the past twelve months. 
State also the quantity and character of lands used. 
The items of expense, distance from market, the 
number sold and the price received and the kind of 
turkeys raised. 

The name of a district west of the Mississippi 
river where the settlers can support and want a first 
class creamery or cheese factory. State the full 
names and postoffice address of enough patrons who 
will guarantee to furnish the milk from at least three 
hundred cows, with the number of cows which each 
owner will agree to use for that purpose, state also 
whether there is already a creamery or factory within 
hauling distance of the district, and if so how far, 
reason for wanting another, and sufficient data to en¬ 
able a prudent business man to determine whether, 
on the statement given, he would care to make a per¬ 
sonal examination of the opportunity or not. 


Where there is a large deposit of rock salt on 
unappropriated Government land. State full par¬ 
ticulars with references to land, distance from rail¬ 
road, whether there is a wagon road to or near the 
deposit and the probable' extent of the deposit. 

The names and addresses of any person who has 
engaged in the tea culture in the State of California. 
Give full particulars as to results, including charac¬ 
ter of land, climate conditions and variety of plants 
used. 

One year’s subscription will be added to the credit 
of any subscriber who furnishes us absolutely cor¬ 
rect answers to any of the above questions. 

Heavy settlements are being made near Wilson 
Creek in Douglas County, Washington, on the Great 
Northern. 


A BIG RUSH FOR LAND. 

Receiver Abner L. Hanscom of the Minot, 
South Dakota, Land Office, wrote up five hundred 
and eleven homestead receipts during the month of 
September, but the rush had increased to such an 
extent that during the first twenty days of October 
he had issued nine hundred and thirty-five home¬ 
stead receipts and the rush still continuing. There 
are five million acres of vacant land in that district, 
but if the rush continues, the lines of the Fort Ber- 
thold Indian Reservation will have to be drawn in to 
make room for the people who want homes. 


E. Hayes, of Goldendale, Washington, has a 
first-class 18,000 capacity saw mill for which he de¬ 
sires a good location in the State of Washington, 
where he can have plenty of timber to cut. Settlers 
111 heavy timber districts who are without saw mill 
facilities should communicate with Mr. Hayes at 
once, as it may be that they can arrange with him to 
locate in their midst. 


SURVEYS NEWLY MADE. 

R. S. Moore and party have returned to Kla¬ 
math Falls, Oregon, from their survey of Townishp 
31 South, Range 73d East, Willamette meridian. 


Surveyor Robert F. Whitman has completed his 
contract for the survey of three full and fractional 
townships on the North Half of the Colville Indian 
Reservation in the State of Washington, with'the 
exception of the fractional townships on the extreme 
east of the Reserve. The survey of these fractional 
will be completed next spring as early as the weather 
will permit work in the field. Entries of land in 
these townships will probably be allowed some time 
next fall. 


The French-Glenn Live Stock Company’s case 
against Mrs. Sarah E. Marshall for swam]) land on 
Malheur Lake in the State of Oregon has been de¬ 
cided in favor of Mrs: Marshall. This was a test 
case and the other settlers there are greatly elated 
over the decision. 


General W. H. Odell representing the State of 
Oregon and C. I. Taylor, representing the United 
States made an examination of certain swamp lands 
in Klamath and Lake counties last week, for the 
purpose of having them certified to the .State of Ore¬ 
gon. 


















PUBLIC LAND 


7 


ANSWERS TO SUBSCRIBERS. 

Under this head complete answers will be given 
to subscribers' questions concerning the public land 
of the United States. Name and address of each 
subscriber must be given with letter asking the. 
question. 

B. F. M., Oregon: 

Can an homestead entry be successfully con¬ 
tested where the entry man filed his entry in 1898. 
but has never fenced or broke out any land and only 
visits it once in six months? 

Answer. Yes, an entry can be successfully 
contested under the statement of facts given. The 
homestead law requires RESIDENCE, CUL ITVA- 
TION and IMPROVEMENT. Visits are not resi ¬ 
dence and parties who make homestead entries under 
tlie erroneous advice that a visit, to the land once in 
six months or indeed no matter how often, so long 
as they are visits, are being misled, and are laying the 
foundation for trouble. The fact that Dick, Tom 
and Harry "Proved up” and only went upon the land 
occasionally, is no proof that he complied with the 
law, or that another could escape punishment for 
perjury. 

L. R. N., Nevada : 

Can a witness testifying falsely before a United 
States Court Commissioner in a final proof case be 
punished for knowingly making such false state¬ 
ments, i. e., the improvements shown to be $1,00 and 
the residence-continuous the facts are that the whole 
improvements were of an actual value of $200 and 
the residence only consisted of a visit to the land once 
or twice a month? 1 

Answer. Any false statement knowingly made 
concerning - final proof before U. S. Commissioners 
or any other officer qualified to administer oaths in 
such cases will subject the witness to a criminal 
prosecution for perjury, under Sec. 5392 Revised 
Statutes of the United States. See Land Laws and 
Decisions, Page Five. 

J. H. Z.: 

Can a man who has made two homestead en¬ 
tries and relinquished them both prior to June 5th, 
1900, be allowed to take 160 acres of land, and is so 
how must he proceed. 

Answer. Yes, he will be allowed the third en¬ 
try, by inserting in his homestead affidavit (foim 
4-063) after the sentence “and I have not made an 
entry under the homestead law, except”—a full de¬ 


scription of the prior entries, stating fully the num¬ 
bers of the land, 'the date and number of the entry 
and the date of its cancellation (or commutation 
proof) and the name of the Land Office where made 
See Land Laws and Decisions, Page Five. 

W. R., Washington: 

Can an alien who has n ! ot even declared ins in¬ 
tention to become a citizen of the United States, and 
therefore unqualified to make homestead entry, file 
a contest against the homestead entry of an old sol¬ 
dier who was born in the United States and fought 
in the Civil and Spanish wars? 

Answer. One need not be a citi¬ 
zen in order to ' bring a contest against 
any entry. The- qualifications of the con¬ 
testant to enter land cannot be called in question 
until he attempts to exercise the preference right of 
entry, which was earned by his successful prosecu¬ 
tion of the contest. He will not be permitted- to file 
unless he has declared his intention by the time lie 
offers his application to enter. 

E. C., Washington: 

I am a widow woman and live in a small town 
where I can get light employment. I made a home¬ 
stead entry several months ago, have hired some 
breaking done, have built a little box house on the 
land and have stayed there a night or two. I do 
sewing and have my machine aiid most of my furni¬ 
ture in my home in town, but I have a cook-stove, 
some cooking utensils, an old chair, table and board 
bunk in my box house. Now can any one-contest 
my land ? 

Answer. Ask yourself this question “Are you 
making that land your home to the exclusion-of one 
elsewhere? If you are not, then your entry can be- 
contested. No one’s opinion about this, matter is- 
as good os your own, for you are the Only one who 
knows absolutely whether you are making that your 
home to the exclusion of one elsewhere. 

H. E. M., Washington: 

I made homestead entery for 80 acres but re¬ 
linquished the same prior to 1890 and at once made 
entry of the land under the old Timber Culture Law, 
under which law I have completed titled to the_ land ; 
can I now make another homestead entry, and if so 
for what amount? 

Answer. The Act of June 5, 1900 completely 
restored your right. You will need to furnish an 
accurate description of the former entry in order to: 
secure the allowance of your second application. 







NOV 4 1901 


8 


PUBLIC LAND. 


Land Offices and Officers of the United States. 


E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior Department, Washington, D. C. 
Binger Hermann, Commissioner General Land Office, Washington, D. C' 


Alabama— 

Huntsville. 

Montgomery. 

Alaska— 

Rampart. 

Sitka. 

St. Michael. 

Arizona— 

Prescott. 

Tucson. 

Arkansas— 

Camden. 

Dardanelle. 

Harrison...... 

Little Rock. 

California— 

Eureka. 

Independence. 

Los Angeles. 

Marysville. 

Redding. 

Sacraemnto. 

San Francisco ... 

Stockton. 

Susanville. 

Visalia. 

Colorado— 

Akron. 

Del Norte. 

Denver. 

Durango. 

Gunnison. 

Glenwood Springs 

Hugo. 

Leadville. 

Lamar. 

Montrose. 

Pueblo. 

Sterling. 

Florida— 

Gainesville. 

Idaho— 

Blackfoot. 

Boise. 

Coeur d’Alene.... 

Hailey. 

Lewiston. 

Iowa— 

Des Moines. 

Kansas— 

Colby. 

Dodge City. 

Topeka. 

Wakeeny. 

Louisiana— 

Natchitoches. 

New Orleans. 

Michigan— 

Marquette. 

Minnesota— 

Crookston. 

Duluth. 

Marshall. 

St. Cloud. 

Mississippi— 

Jackson. 

Missouri— 

Boonville. 

Ironton. 

Springfield. 

Montana— 


REGISTER. 

John A. Steele. 

Robert Barker. 

t\ M. Nu'len. 

John W. Dudley. 

Franklin Moses. 

Fredrick A. Tritle, Jr.. 
Milton R. Moore. 

Charles T. Duke. 

Joseph H. Battenfield.. 
John I. Worthington... 
Harry H. Myers. 

Henry A. Olesten. 

Stafford W. Austin... 
Angus J. Crookshank. 
Frank W. Johnson.... 

Frank M. Swasey. 

Thomas Fraser. 

Aaron B. Hunt. 

John D. Maxey. 

Thomas S. Roseberry. 
Geo. W. Stewart. 

Peter Campbell.. 

James H. Baxter. 

Charles D. Ford. 

Fredrick C. Perkins... 

Melvin A. Deering. 

John F. Squire. 

Lon E. Foote. 

Wat T. Beall. 

Willia mA. Merrill. 

James A. Layton. 

John R. Gordon. 

David C. Fleming. 

Walter G. Robinson... 

Lorenzo R. Thomas... 

James King. 

David H. Budlong— 

Neal J. Sharp. 

John B. West. 

Thornton S. Howard.. 

Kleber E. Wilcockson. 

Thomas A. Scates. 

George W. Fisher. 

Isaac T. Purcell. 

J. Ernest Breda. 

Walter L. Cohen.. 

Thomas Scadden. 

Sylvester Peterson.... 
William E. Culkin — 

Cyrus P. Shepard. 

Myron D. Taylor. 

James Hill. 

William H. Martin — 

George Steel. 

Martin V. Gideon.. 


RECEIVER. 
Herschel V. Cashin. 
John C. Leftwich. 

Wm. R. Edwards. 
Albert J. Apperson. 
Albert E. Rose. 

John C. Martin. 

John H. Bauman. 

Edward A. Shicker. 
John G. Chitwood. 
Felix S. Baker. 

John E. Bush. 

James F. Thompson. . 
Frank E. Densmore. 
Arthur W. Kinney. 
Henry Malloch. 

Lloyd L. Carter. 
William A. Newcum 
Sargent S. Mortin. 
George A. McKenzie. 
Alfred H. Taylor. 
Othello Scribner. 

George W. Warner. 
Peter F. Barclay. 
Benjamin K Kimberly 
Daniel L. Sheets. 

Miss Martha C. Brown 
James W. Ross. 

John P. Dickinson. 
Fred Butler. 

C. Frost Liggett. 

John E. Pelton. 

John J. Lambert. 
Charles B. Timberlake 

Henry S. Chubb. 

George B. Rogers. 
Edward E. Garrett. 
Charles D. Warner. 
Wm. A. Hodgman. 
Charles H. Garby. 

Stephen J. Loughran. 

Cyrus Anderson. 

Lewis J. Pettijohn. 
Rudolph B. Welch. 
Frank W. King 

Charles J. Greene. 
Charles P. Johnston. 

John Jones. 

August F. George. 

Jay M. Smith. 
Christopher F. Case. 
Alva Eastman. 

George E. Matthews. 

Herman Schmidt. 

C. Sanford Russell. 
George A. Ramsey. 


Bozeman. 

Helena. 

Kalispell. 

Lewistown. 

Miles City. 

Missoula. 

Nebraska— 

Alliance. 

Broken Bow. 

Lincoln. 

McCook. 

North Platte.. 

O’Neill. 

Sidney. 

Valentine. 

Nevada— 

Carson City. 

New Mexico— 

Clayton. 

Las Cruces. 

Roswell. 

Santa Fe. 

North Dakota— 

Bismarck. 

Devil’s Lake.. 

Fargo. 

Grand Fotks. 

Minot... 

Oklahoma— 

Alva. 

*E1 Reno. 

Enid. 

Guthrie. 

Kingfisher. 

*Lawton. 

Mangum. 

Oklahoma. 

Perry..'. 

Woodward. 

Oregon— 

Burns. 

La Grande. 

Lakeview. 

Oregon City. 

Roseburg. 

The Dalles. 

South Dakota— 

Aberdeen. 

Chamberlain. 

Huron. 

Mitchell. 

Pierre. 

Rapid City. 

Watertown. 

Utah- 

Salt Lake City... 

Washington- 
North Yakima.... 

Olympia. 

Seattle. 

Spokane. 

Vancouver. 

Walla Walla. 

Waterville. 

Wisconsin— 

Ashland. 

Eau Claire. 

Wyoming— 

Buffalo. 

Cheyenne. 

Evanston. 

Douglas. 

Lander. 

Sundance. 


Albert L. Love. 

George D. Greene. 
Frank H. Nash.... 
Edward Brassey... 

Samuel Gordon. 

Elmer E. Hershey. 


Fred M. Dorrington... 

James Whitehead. 

Joseph W. Johnson... 
Francis M. Rathbun.. 

George E. French. 

Stephen J. Weekes_ 

Robley D. Harris. 

James C. Pettijohn — 


Oliver H. Gallup. 

Edward W. Fox. 
Emil Solignac.... 
Howard Leland.. 
Manuel R. Otero. 


Alex. C. McGillivray.. 

Ole Serumgard. 

Charles N. Valentine 

Ernest H. Kent...- 

Thomas E. Olsgard... 

Robert A. Cameron.. 


James B. Cullison_ 

John Boles. 

Emory D. Brownlee., 
tlenry D. McN ight. 

John A. Trotter. 

Seymour S. Price. 

Alfred H. Boles. 

Frank D. Healy. 


George W. Hayes... 
Edward W. Bartlett... 
Eldon M. Brattain.. 
Charles B. Moores.. 
Joseph T. Bridges.. 
Jay P. Lucas. 


John S. Vetter. 

William V. Lucas.. 
Charles A. Blake... 
George E. Foster.. 
Albert Wheelon.... 
George P. Bennett. 
Lee Stover. 


Frank D. Hobbs. 


Walter J. Reed. 

Frank G. Deckebach. 
Edward P. Tremper.. 
William H. Ludden.... 
William R. Dunbar... 

John M. Hill. 

Matthew B. Malloy_ 

August Doenitz. 

Alfred Cypreansen.... 


Prince A. Gatchell_ 

William E. Chaplin... 

Charles Kingston. 

Albert D. Chamberlain. 

William T. Adams_ 

Alpha E. Hoyt. 

*;Oflicers that have just been established to 
from'the.Kiowa and Comanche reservations. 


Andrew J. Edsall. 
lohn Horsky. 

William C. Whlpps. 
Louis W. Eldridge. 
James M. Rhoades. 
William O. Ranft. 

William R. Akers. 
Frank H. Young. 
Thomas P. Kennard. 
Joel A. Piper. 

Frank Bacon. 

Richard H. Jenness. 
James L.McIntosh, Jr 
Albert L. Towle. 

David H. Hall. 

Albert W. Thompson. 
Henry D. Bowman. 
David L. Geyer. 
Edward F. Hobart. 

John Satterlund. 
Henry E. Baird. 
DeWitt C. Tufts. 
Christian L. Lindstrom 
Abner . Hanscom. 

William J. French. 


David W. Eastman. 
Fredrick E. McKinley. 
Jacob V. Admire, 
rHines D. Maguire. 

John A. Oliphant. 
Anton H. Classen. 

Joel R. Scott. 

John W. Miller. 

Charles Newell. 
Samuel O. Swackhamer 
Harry Bailey. 

William Galloway. 
James H. Booth. 

Otis Patterson. 

Frank A. Brown. 
Charles L. Brockway. 
John Westdahl. 
Thomas C. Burns. 
Henry E. Cutting. 
William S. Warner. 
George W. Case. 

George A. Smith. 

Miles Cannon. 

John O’B. Scobey. 
Columbus T. Tyler. 
Samuel A. Wells. 

Lynn B. Clough. 
Thomas Mosgrove. 
Lucien E. Kellog. 

Duportal G. Sampson 

Alexander Meggett. 

Ephraim H. Smock. 
Edward A. Slack. 
Frank M. Foote. 

Merris C. Barrow. 

Mrs. Minnie Williams. 
Samuel A. Young, 
accomodate the business 


(jltlb Off^ ncw °W ortun <t'* $ for You and 

For a limited time “PUBLIC LAND” will be sent to five 
different addresses when sent in by one person for five dollars. 

Each issue of “PUBLIC LAND” will contain more of value 
to the subscriber interested in public land matters than the full 
price of the year’s subscription. Some will receive a hundred 
times more. Get your friends to subscribe now. Send all re¬ 
mittances whenever possible bv Post Office or Express Money 
rdsr, mile payible t j “PUBLIC LAND.” 
ffice 124.-25 Auditorium Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


Senator Clark, of Montana, has recently pur¬ 
chased 5,000 acres of coal land in Wyoming. 

New England capitalists have purchased large 
tracts of land near Charleston, South Carolina, and 
have devoted the same to tea culture. The tea al¬ 
ready raised is pronounced o be of superior qualiy, 
and the culture of that plant bids fair to become very 
extensive in the near future. 


















































































































































































































ADVERTISEMENTS. 


“PUBLIC 

LAND” 

has made several of its readers over 

$500 

Bylbringing opportunities to their 
notice which they would not have 
learned in any other way. There 
are many more of these- 

$500 

pieces in store for those who read 

“PUBLIC 

LAND" 

There will be more opportunities 
than you can possibly use, so just 
speak to four of your friends about 
subscribing and take advantage 
of our clubbing offer on page 8. 


ATTEND THE 

Puget Sound Business College 

for a practical, up-to-date business course. 
Bookkeeping:, penmanship, stenography 
and typewriting. Send ten cents for sam¬ 
ple dozen cards and how you can earn 
some money during spare time. Address 
D. M. KNAUF, Principal, 902 Yakima ave., 
Tacoma, Wash. 

0. W. KENNEDY, 

Livery Stables, 

Gentle Driving Horses. Good Drivers to 
show you the land you want to see. 
Everything first class. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 

DOUGLAS HOTEL, 

William Newlove, Prop., 

AMERICAN PLAN. 

H.00 and 21.60 Per Day. 

Prompt, Neat, Clean Service. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 

WILSON CREEK LIVERY STABLE 
R. J. Armstrong, Prop. 

GOOD HORSES, GOOD RIGS, GOOD 
DRIVERS, FIRST CLASS 
SERVICE. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 

CLAIR HUNT, 

Civil Engineer 
U. S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor. 

BOSSBURG, - - WASHINGTON. 


INLAND PRINTING COMPANY, 

610-612 Sprague Ave. 

Print Anything. Try us with your 
next order. 

It will save you money. 


M. L. SCHERMERHORN, 
United States Commissioner 


Thert'i lot* uf good Vacant Agricultural Laud 
tributary to 

LIND, . - - WASHINGTON 


WENTWORTH GLOTHING GO. 

Reliable Mens’ and 
Boys’ Outfitters. 

709-11 Riverside Ave. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 


J. W. MeCUNE, 

Farm and City Property For Sale 
or Exchange. 

MONEY TO LOAN. 

7-8 Sherwood Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 

JOHN McDOWELL, 

united States Commissioner and 
Justice of the Peace. 

Gold Butte, Mont. 


H” S. Swenson, Clyde C. Heniow, 

United States Commissioner. Notary Public’ 

SWENSON & HENION, 

Timber and Agricultural Lands. Homestead 
and timber locations. Agents townsite of New¬ 
port. 

Publishers of NEWPORT MINER, $ 1.50 per year. 
NEWPORT, WASHINGTON. 


PIANOS 

Being the only dealer in 
Spokane who buys direct 
from the manufacturer in 
carload lots, and for cash 
only, I am in a position 
to save you money if you 
want a piano.- 

AUGUST MEYER 

9\9 Riverside Ave. 


































: *M»~»*«~n-*^8~U-U~a~U~n-a~8~8--8~8~U~8~a~U~a~«a«a~a~8-8~a~a~a~U~U-*a~a~a~a-*-a-*-a-*-8-*-a-**p 

Walton & Goodsell, Land Attorneys | 


Leave of absence from your Homestead. Applications to 
amend your Homstead and making of all papers pertaining to 
Public Lands. Contests, protests and other bearings before 
any U. S. Land Office. The Commissioner of the General 
Land Office and the Interior Department. Mining Applica¬ 
tions. Military Bounty Land Warrants. Forest Reserve, 
Soldier’s Additional Homestead, and all other Land Scrips 
bought and sold. We can get your tangles straightened with¬ 
out your coming to the office 

Office Rooms 124-25 Auditorium Block, Phone Main 

W asliiri^jtori - — 


3 6 9 


f-*-a-»‘8-*'a-*-a , *-8-*-a-»-8-**a , »-a-*-8- < -a-»-n-*-u«-a-*n»-a-*-8-»-a , -a-*-a»’a-*-a«$-*a'»'a-»-8-«-a , *-8 - * - 8-*-u- ,, a-*-a , *-8-«-8-* , a-*-u- 


? 



j~a~a-~a~a~a~a-«8~a-«-a-*a~a-*a~a*-a-«-n~8»-a~a*8-«a-*a-~a-*a-*a-*u~a-*u-«-a-*-a-*-a-*-a-«-a-*-u-*-a-*-a-*-a-*-a-*-a-*-a-*-a-~ 

! will introduce the Northwestern Busi- i 
to the readers of Public Land. The i 
this advertisement is to induce the ^ 
investigate the merits of the institution, f 
for on MERIT we build. ? 

Its students hold United States records for ^ 
proficiency in Civil Service and Bookkeeping. £ 

FIVE COURSES OF STUDY. f 

Shorthand and Typewriting, Civil Service, Busi- i 
ness, Normal, and Telegraphy. £ 

For detailed information call at the office or § 
send for catalogue. 


E. H. THOMPSON, Principal 

SPOKANE, WASH. 






















#0/f£/7M£/? /5T//£.//0P£0f FZ/SMl/Ott 




a, PVBLISHED 

^ WEEKLY. 


DEVOTED TO .THOSE 
INTERESTED IN—' 
THE PVBLIC LAMBS 
^OF*' 
VMITED STATES 


WZM2^MZ22mWZ??ZIL 

$1.50 PER YEAR 
»M ADVAflCE. 


Vol. i. No. i 2 . Spokane, Wash., Nov. 4 , 1901 . Single Copies, 10 Cents 



CONTENTS. 

Editorial— 

In the State of Louisiana. 4 


Grazing Land in McCook, Ne¬ 

Wanted—Statesmen. 1 

braska District. 4 

Take a Vote on it. 1 

New Reservation Opened in 


Montana and North Dakota . . 4 

Current Topics— 

— 

Irrigation. 2 

Land Laws and Decisions— 


Reservoirs for Watering Stock. . 5 

Minerals and Timber— 

—- 

Washington Iron Mills. 3 

Miscellany— 

New Townships in Oregon. 3 

We Want to Know. 6 

Irrigation—Continued. 3 

Personals. 6 


DesMoines, Iowa.6 

New Opportunities— 

Answers to Subscribers. 7 

Homestead Claims in Adams 

Land Offices and Officers of the 

County, State of Washington. 4 

sr~--- 

United States (corrected).... 8 

--—-- m 







































ADVERTISEMENTS 


JOSEPH HUDSON SHORT, 

Attorney at Law 
and 

United States Commissioner, 


VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI. 

BOLXLN J. BEEVES, 


United States Commissioner, 


WILBUR, WASHINGTON. 

ALFRED THOMPSON, 
Attorney at Law, Notary Public, 
U. S. Conrt Commissioner, 

Beal Estate, Loans, Abstracts, 

SIS MAIN ST., OLYMPIA, WASH. 

SIDNEY MOOB HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

In and for District of Washington. 


HOQUIAM, WASHINGTON. 

H. G. LAZE, B. S., B. S. D., L. L. D., 

Attorney and Connsellor at Law, 
U. S. Commissioner, Notary Public. 

Land Scrip of all kinds. 

School Land selections made. 

JOSEPH, OREGON. 


A. B. SWANSON, 

United States Commissioner, 

Notary Public, Loam' 
and Collection!—Conveyancer 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 

GUMMING BROS. & POWELL, 
Choice Timber and Homestead Loca¬ 
tions on Government Land. 

TIMBER CRUISED AND ESTIMATES GIVEN 

Fruit, grazing and ranch lands and pine and 
cedar timber for sale. 

80114 Riverside Ave. SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


T. D. HASTIE, 

Attorney at Law, 

U. S. Court Commissioner. 

Homestead Filings and Final Proofs. 
OROFINO, IDAHO. 

ORIN H. WOODS, 
Surveyor and U. S. Commissioner. 

Land Filings and Final Proofs. 
Ditches Surveyed and Recorded. 

BASIN, WYOMING. 

JNO. JAS. GRAVES, 

Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, 
Conveyancer, Real Estate, 

MEYERS FALLS, WASHINGTON. 

ERED’K J. HOAGLAND, 


Attorney at Law, 


ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 

C. H. HOLDEN, 

Attorney at Law. 

Choice timber lands in large or small 
tracts. Timber land cruised and estimates 
given. Government lands located. Fruit 
lands. Ranch land. Grazing land for sale. 
Climate unsurpassed; no cold, no heat, 
lands, ranch land, grazing land for sale, 
no cyclones. Correspondence solicited. 

FLORENCE, OREGON. 

J. W. MARSHALL, 
Attorney at Law. 

Practice in all the Courts. 

207 Auditorium Blk., SPOKANE, WASH. 


HOMES FOR THE H0MESEEXER3 

LANDS FOR THE LANDLESS. 

We have a large list of the choicest 
farming lands in the Big Bend and 
throughout the Inland Empire. Improved 
farms $15 to $20 per acre. This Is the sec¬ 
tion that produces 30,000,000 bushels of 
wheat per annum. Fine fruit; no failures; 
ideal climate. Money placed for non-resi¬ 
dents on first mortgages on first class 
land. Trantum & Schoonover, Odessa,Wn. 


J. B. ZIEGLER, 

Notary Public, Real Estate and Fire 
Insurance Agent. 

IMPROVED FARM LANDS, RAW 
LANDS AND TOWN PROPER¬ 
TIES FOR SALE. 


Prices and Terms will be Furnished 
Promptly. 


Office on First Avenue. 


ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 



Quickly secured. OT7P. FES E'PE WHEN PATENS 
OBTAINED. Send model, sketch or photo, with 
description for free report as to patentability. 48-PAGE 
HAND-BOOS FREE. Contains references and bill 
information. WRITE FOR COPY OF OTJR SPECIAL 
OFFER. It is the most liberal proposition ever made by 
a patent attorney, and EVERY INVENTOR SHOULD 
READ IT before applying for patent. Address: 

H. B. WILLSON A CO. 

PATENT LAA/YERS, 

LsDroltBidg., WASHINGTON, D. C. 
■■HHiMHniBHH 


Free Homesteads. 


There are over 100 good quarter sections with 
in short distance of the Great Northern Railroad 
that are subject to homastead entry, the same 
kind of land that produced 40 bushels of wheat 
to the acre this year. We have an accurate 
knowledge of these vacant tracts and will locate 
desirable parties on them at very reasonable 
rates. Callon 


H. E. STONE, 

With O. W. Stone Undertaking Co. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON 


















































THE LIBHAHf OF 
CONGRESS, | 
I 0 N€ Copy Rhobvec 

NOV. 11 1901 

CoWWG HT ENTRY 


CLAS® **0. 



PUBLIC LAND. 


m//o/ 7 fm/f£/? /j w£MOP£Ofr//£/Mrm 



^ PVBLI5.HED 
^ WEEKLY. 

WALTON 5 G000SELL << 
PUBLISHERS. 


0EVOTEB TO THOSE 
IMTERESTED IfW 
THE PVBLIC L/\n05> 
~or — 

THE VMITED STATES 

5 LEO WALTON, EDITOR. * 


11.50 PER YEAR 
111 ADVANCE. 


© 


V" SINGLE COPIES 

f TEN CENTS. 


Offices 124-125 Auditorium Bldg., Spokane, Wash. 


ADVERTISING CRATES ON APPLICATION. 
Entered at Spokane, Wash., as Second Class Mail Matter. 


Copyrighted 1901 by Walton & Goodsell. 

Vol. 1 . Spokane, Wash , Nov. 4,1901. No. 12, 

WANTED—STATESMEN. 

This is an age of politics and few men are in pub¬ 
lic life today who have the moral courage to support 
a measure which is not in strict accordance with their 
political platform, without regard to whether the 
measure would be for the best interests of the Nation 
or not. 

Obviously we have too many politicians and prac¬ 
tically no statesmen, for a man is simply a politician 
and not a statesman so long as he neglects or refuses 
to support a measure that his own soul assures him 
is right. The south and west with their small dele¬ 
gations have hammered at the capitol for the proper 
recognition of their natural resources for many a 
weary day. That there is no department or bureau 
of the national government devoted to the mining 
interests of the United States is proof sufficient- that 
there have not been many statesmen assembled at the 
Nation’s Capitof at any time, or provision would 
have been made, giving proper recognition to these 
immense interests. 

The matter of irrigating millions of acres of land, 
which in their present condition are comparatively 
worthless is, a subject the importance of which the 
Government has recognized, but to which it lias so 
far given but meagre attention. It is true that it has 
established twenty odd Forest Reservations and 
Congress has passed *a law enabling the States to 
create and control irrigating districts and to supply 
water to settlers ( which Montana has recently made 
use of) in the hope that the States having arid semi- 
arid lands would take the matter off of the Govern¬ 
ment’s shoulders. These two measures are effective 


so far as they go, but this generation will pass away 
before ten per cent of the people know of their exist¬ 
ence, much less to feel their influence. 

The Government should create a water depart¬ 
ment, whose sole business it should he to advance 
the prosperity of the Nation by furnishing water for 
irrigating purposes. It could be made the most 
profitable department of the Government, for every 
one receiving water from it would doubtless 
willingly pay a small margin over the cost of bring¬ 
ing it to him. The Government cannot possibly lose 
by the. venture. Notwithstanding the enormous 
crop of the United States which is now being mar¬ 
keted and which has taxed the moving capacity of 
its transportation facilities to the utmost, there is 
not an average, of one county to the State, where ir¬ 
rigation is not used, but what would have doubled 
its yield, with only a slight advance in the cost of 
production, had it been provided with an adequate 
supply of water for irrigating purposes. 

Ex-Secretary Noble of St. Louis, Missouri, has 
brought himself honors in addition to those earned 
by a long and useful public career, by declaring that 
lie will spend the remainder of his life in assisting' 
to bring about a National system of irrigation. 
Public Land has placed Mr. Noble’s name upon its 
list of statesmen arid is more than pleased to see that 
one of the Nation’s great men, who has been before 
the public a quarter of a century and who under¬ 
stands as perhaps few other men do, the shortcom¬ 
ings of party measures, has selected that line of labor 
for his life’s work in the advancement of the Na¬ 
tion’s good, which we believe to be of the most im¬ 
portance. We need more men like Mr. Noble in 
public life today. 


TAKE A VOTE ON IT. 

The Registers and Receivers of the Land Offices 
of the United States are most respectfully requested 
to cast their individual vote for or against the pass¬ 
age of a grazing land bill (such as was suggested 
in Public Land, issue of October i, 1901, or any 
other measure which will enable the millions of acres 
of grazing lands to be disposed of to citizens of the 
United States). 

Kindly fill out -the following blank and return to 
Public Land at once: 

.Register or Receiver 

.Land Office. 

.For Grazing Bill. 

.. . Againsf Grazing Bil] 

A record will be kept of the votes cast and results 
announced as soon as the returns begin to come in. 









































2 


PUBLIC LAND. 


CURRENT TOPICS. 


IRRIGATION. 

Notwithstanding the many instances where thous¬ 
ands of dollars are spet by a hostess for a party din¬ 
ner, this is an age of economy. The strongest evi¬ 
dence, perhaps, that we have of it is in the organiza¬ 
tion of the vast syndicates which now practically 
control every large business enterprise in the world, 
and more especially is this true of the United States, 
the recognized leader in gigantic enterprises. 

Every labor saving device that will economize a 
moment’s time, and every process that turns to prof¬ 
itable use a single bit of raw material is eagerly 
sought after. New methods and oldones put to the se¬ 
verest tests in the hope that a small saving in either 
time or material might be effected. In the domain 
of agriculture the latest improved, most powerful 
and effective machinery is purchased and used, even 
by the farmer of small means, in the hope that the 
profit from the product of his land might be as great 
as possible. Men are beginning to learn, however, 
that the true germ of profit is wrapped up in a tiny 
drop of water, and the Government has marched 
right into the midst of the rain-making - business on 
a scale perhaps never dreamed of by the pioneer rain¬ 
makers of Kansas. Its methods, however, are not 
of the thunder machine order. A more effective one 
is being used and with a large measure of success. 
Great rain fields have been fenced off, all over the 
west, in the form of Forest reservations, and by in¬ 
viting and heavy rainfall have been the direct means 
of producing profitable crops in many sections that 
could not have done so without this assistance. 
There are only two dozen of these rain fields in the 
United States, and of course they do not influence 
the rainfall except in their immediate localities. The 
crying need of the hour, is to have an adequate sup¬ 
ply of water for irrigation purposes when the rain¬ 
fall, is not sufficient to continue the healthy growth 
or" vegetation. 

There is an old fogy idea that irrigation is not 
needed except in the far west, that has kept the na¬ 
tional legislature from giving this subject the consid¬ 
eration which it demands. Whole sessions of Con¬ 
gress have been wasted in discussing questions that 
so far as contributing to the permanent prosperity 
cf the country were concerned, were worse than use¬ 
less. But when the participants in these debates 
went back home to lay up their political fences they 
found crop shortages all over their districts, solely 
due to the lack of that magical little drop of water 


which would have filled the granaries, and it matters 
not whether he was from Maine or California. The 
eastern delegations are concerned in diverting the 
treasury stream to their section of the country, and 
then into dead avenues in the form of public build¬ 
ings and such things where the talents so buried will 
never yield any appreciable returns to the nation. 
On the other hand, if a larger per cent of the public 
money was spent in the development of the Nation’s 
water supply, it would not only bring forth the pro¬ 
verbial talent for talent, but would multiply itself 
twenty fold. As an instance of what can be done in 
this respect reference need only be made to any dis¬ 
trict in the United States where the enterprising cit¬ 
izens have perfected a system of irrigation. There 
are dozens of these enterprises in different parts of 
the west which were thought to be worthless for 
agricultural purposes, where the land was only used 
dor grazing and which if offered on the most liberal 
terms would not 'have brought five dol¬ 
lars per acre. These same lands now 
have an actual producing value of over 

one hundred dollars per acre. One of the best 
instances of this kind, perhaps, is that in Southeast¬ 
ern Colorado, in the Arkansas River Valley, partic¬ 
ularly in Otero County. These were dry, barren 
sage brush lands, having no market value, and only 
used by the cattlemen and sheep herders. The water 
has been diverted from the Arkansas River, and to¬ 
day Rocky Ford is the center of one 

of the most prosperous communities in 

the United States, and is known all over 

the United States for the flavor of its melons 
and its great watermellon day. There is no other 
locality in the United States that can 'boast of two 
such immense sugar refining plants, only a dozen 
miles apart, that represent a capital invested amount¬ 
ing to about $ i ,500,000. This same condition of af¬ 
fairs can be repeated in five hundred other places in 
the United States, and would be if the proper encour¬ 
agement were given to this, the greatest of the Na¬ 
tion’s resources. 

The same quantity of land which without irriga¬ 
tion is now required to support one family, would 
readily yield an abundance for ten times that number 
when provided with a sufficient water supply. What 
this would mean for the advancement of any section 
of the country can be seen at 2 glance. 

The poorest land in the United States can be made 
to pay a profit on the labor expended if a liberal 
amount of water obtainable for irrigating purposes. 

( Continued on Page j.) 






PUBLIC LAND. 


3 


MINERALS AND TIMBER. 


WASHINGTON IRON MILLS. 

The Irondale Iron Works on Puget Sound, 
Washington, which have been idle for the past twelve 
years have been purchased by the Pacific Steel Com¬ 
pany, which is composed of experienced Pennsylva¬ 
nia iron manufacturers, and are being placed in con¬ 
dition for extensive operations. This will give an 
impetus to many industries in the Northwest that 
have heretofore lain dormant, by reason of excessive 
charges for freights and exorbitant profits insisted 
upon by eastern manufacturers. 


The citizens of Davenport, Washington, are much 
concerned over a movement launched by the citizens 
Of Springdale, Washington, to build a wagon road 
from the latter place to the Cedar Canyon Mining 
district on the South Half of the Colville Reserva¬ 
tion. The one is hauled out to Davenport for ship¬ 
ment to the smelters, and the ore wagons go back 
loaded with provisions. 

The distance from Springdale is several miles less 
and it seems that the shortest road will draw the ore 
out. To offset this Davenport is going to spend quite 
a sum widening the present grade and in making 
it less steep so that a traction engine can be used to 
draw several wagons, and by so doing reduce the cost 
to a minimum. 


Ophir Creek, Alaska, produced over one million 
dollars during the past season. Three pans were re¬ 
cently taken out on Discovery Claim that netted over 
a thousand dollars. 


A two foot seam of good coal was struck in the 
Sandstone quarry near Fort Columbia on the rivei 
last week that is the cause of quite a little excitement, 
owing to the belief that a large deposit will be uncov¬ 
ered and of which this is a stringer. 


L. W. Burtch, U. S. Mineral Surveyor, has re¬ 
cently completed the survey of 5,000 acres of oil land 
in the Vale, Oregon, district for a Spokane, Baker 
City and Portland, syndicate. 

■ 20,000 acres of State timber land was sold Iasi 
week at public sale. The timber was chiefly spruce 
and cedar, some of it bringing as high as $30 per 
acre. The sale took place at the Montesano Court 
house in Chehalis County, Washington. The buyers 


were eastern parties Who are changing their base of 
operations. 


NEW TOWNSHIPS IN OREGON. 

Township 5 N. of Range 42, E. W. M., has re¬ 
cently been surveyed in the field but the township 
plats have not been filed in the Local Office. 

The land in this township is agricultural, grazing 
and timber land. There are also strong coal indica¬ 
tions in the vicinity, and it is believed that by proper 
development a fine body of coal can be uncovered. 
The land is in Wallowa County, and in the LaGrande 
land district. Applications for land in this township 
cannot be accepted until the filing of the township 
plats. Some of the land has been settled upon for 
many years, but there are a number of choice timber 
and homestead claims left. 

IRRIGATION. 

(Continued from Page 2.) 

Instead *of this being a local issue confined to the 
so-called semi-arid western states, it is the broadest 
issue that 'has ever been presented for the considera¬ 
tion of the American people, and prosperity will not 
take up its permanent residence in this fair land until 
the thousands of streams above and under ground 
are placed at the disposal of the man whose energy 
fills the Nation’s granaries and loads the table with 
good cheer. There are many places where surface 
water can not be obtained with profit but where ar¬ 
tesian flows can be reached at very shallow depths. 
The opportunities for development in this direction 
are practically endless. There are three gravity'sys¬ 
tems of irrigation, flowing streams, storage systems 
and artesian flows, at least one of which, can be se¬ 
cured in every county in the United States and in 
addition to this the pumping system is profitably 
used in many countries of the west. Sometimes this 
is accomplished by current wheels and in other cases 
by steam pulsometer pumps. If one wishes proof of 
the benefits of irrigation he need only visit any lo¬ 
cality where it is used and observe the difference in 
appearance in the lands BELOW the irrigation ditch 
and those adjoining but beyond the reach of the wa¬ 
ter. Fine orchards and all kinds of vegetation suited 
to the climatic conditions growing in a most luxuri¬ 
ant manner under the ditdh, and practically a barren 
waste above. The land above the ditch is a fair rep¬ 
resentation of present conditions as Compared with 
what they will be when the National Government 
devotes a department to the advancement of this un¬ 
limited National resource. 

















PUBLIC LAND. 


4 


NEW OPPORTUNITIES. 


400 HOMESTEAD CLAIMS IN ADAMS 
COUNTY, STATE OF WASH¬ 
INGTON. 

In that part of Adams County, Washington, which 
is within the Spokane Falls land district, there are 
over four hundred homestead claims still vacant and 
subject to appropriation under the settlement laws. 
There are also several isolated tracts which can be 
purchased for $1.25 per acre after they have been 
ordered into the market by the Commissioner of the 
General Land Office and 'for which order a special 
application must be made by the intending purchaser. 

The largest part of this vacant land is in ranges 
thirty-six, thirty-seven and thirty-eight. The land 
in many cases is rather rough but the claims may be 
taken so that over an hundred acres of good agri¬ 
cultural land can be obtained to the claim in dozens of 
cases, while in others only about half of the land 
Would be suited for agricultural purposes. The brok¬ 
en land is good for grazing. There are many springs 
and small streams upon and passing over this vacant 
land, and which, is of the same character that.produc¬ 
ed as high as fifty bushels of wheat to the acre this 
year without irrrigation. 

That part of Adams County which is in the Walla 
Walla land district is of the same character. 

There are many odd forty, eighty and hundred and 
twenty acre tracts that are good land and would pay 
a nice margin on the investment by locating scrip 
upon them. A tract of this kind was located in that 
way from this county last week which has a present 
market value of twenty dbllars per acre. This was 
not an isolated case, for there are dozens just like it. 
Ten thousand dollars can be made in a twelve-month, 
by purchasing a like amount of scrip and placing it 
upon these choice vacant tracts. Many of them 
would find a ready sale at the present time at from 
eight to twenty dollars per acre. The man in Adams 
county who wants a homestead and has a right to one 
should consult his nearest Court Commissioner and 
make his application at once, as there are many men 
coming into this locality from the eastern states who 
are looking for just these kinds of opportunities. 
This, land lies chiefly between the .Northern Pacific 
and Great Northern railroads, although a consider¬ 
able portion of it would be tributary to Winona on 
the OregOn Navigation & R. R. Co. 

IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA. 

The public land in the State of Louisiana is get¬ 


ting very much scattered. Register Walter L. Cohen 
of the New Orleans Land Office reports that there 
are about 300,000 acres left in the State and that they 
are located in the following thirty-nine parishes : 

Assumption Ph., 183; Aveyeles Ph., 567; Bien¬ 
ville Ph., 7,529; Calcasieu Ph., 15,678; Caldwell Ph., 
23,124; Catahoula Ph., 76,279; Cladbourne Ph., 2,- 
141; East Carrol Ph., 260; East Feliciana Ph., 2,568; 
Franklin Ph., 1,710; Grant Ph., 21,160; Iberia Ph., 
1,502; Iberville Ph., 344; Jackson Ph., 11,838; Jef¬ 
ferson Ph., 1,840; Lincoln Ph., 2,844; Livingston 
Ph., 4,809; Madison Ph., 160; Morehouse Ph., 8,- 
289; Ouachita Ph., 16,952; Plaquemine Ph., 3,965; 
Pointe Coupee Ph., 173. Rapides Ph., 16,088;'Rich¬ 
land Ph., 540; St. Landry Ph., 2,377; St. Martin Ph., 
840; St. Mary Ph., 85; St. Tammany Ph., 720; Tan¬ 
gipahoa Ph., 4,897; Tensas Ph., 200; Terebonne Ph., 
1,945 ; Union Ph., 15,314; Vermillion Ph., 585; Ver¬ 
non Ph., 14,822; Washington Ph., 3,736; West Ba¬ 
ton Rouge Ph., 368; West Carroll Ph., 1,090; West 
Feliciana Ph., 310; Winn, 53,788. 


GRAZING LAND IN McCOOIC, NEBRASKA 
DISTRICT. 

The cattlemen in McCook, Nebraska, land district 
are making a desperate effort to obtain control of 
the 200,000 acres of grazing land which is left in that 
district, and as a result of this purpose, many entries 
are being made to that end. The bulk of the land, 
however, is being taken up by emigrants from the 
eastern states.. There is no timber land in this dis¬ 
trict, the land is rolling prairie, the soil is sandy loam 


NEW RESERVATION OPENED IN MON¬ 
TANA AND NORTH DAKOTA. 

The Fort Buford Military Reservation in Mon¬ 
tana and North Dakota has been opened for settle¬ 
ment. The surveys have not been completed and 
entries cannot, for that reason be made of the lands. 
Many people have settled and are now settling in that 
district and Register Samuel Gordon of the Miles 
City Land Office reports that nearly all of the desir¬ 
able lands have been squatted upon by the people who 
are now waiting for the filing of the township plats. 

This reservation is in the Miles City Montana 
and the Minot, South Dakota land districts and 
comprises about 400,000 acres. The Yellowstone 
empties into the Missouri river in about the center 
of the reserve. The Great Northern Railroad pass¬ 
es through it and the most convenient station from 
which to reach these lands would probably be Buford 
in Montana. 














PUBLIC LAND. 


5 


LAND LAWS AND DECISIONS. 

RESERVOIRS FOR WATERING STOCK. 

30. The act approved January 13, 1897 (29 Stat., 
484), entitled “An Act Providing for the location 
and . purchase of public lands for reservoir sites,” is 
as follow's: 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Repre¬ 
sentatives of the United States of America in Con¬ 
gress Assembled, That any person,live-stock 'com¬ 
pany, or transportation corporation engaged in 
breeding, grazing, driving, or transporting live stock, 
may construct reservoirs upon unoccupied public 
lands of the United States, not mineral or otherwise 
reserved, for the purpose of furnishing water to such 
live stock, and shall have control of such reservoir, 
under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the 
Interior, and the lands upon which the same is con¬ 
structed, not exceeding one hundred and sixty acres, 
so long as such reservoir is maintained and water 
kept therein for such purposes: Provided, That such 
reservoir shall not be fenced and shall be open to the 
free use of any person desiring to water animals of 
any kind. 

Sec. 2. That any person, live-stock company, or 
corporation 'desiring to avail themselves of the pro¬ 
visions of this Act shall file a declaratory statement in 
the United States Land Office in the district where 
the land is situated, which statement shall describe 
the land where such reservoir is to be or has been 
constructed; shall state what business such corpora¬ 
tion is engaged in; specify the capacity of the reser¬ 
voir in gallons, and whether such company, person, 
or corporation has filed upon other reservoir sites 
within the same county; and if so, how many. 

Sec. 3. That at any time after the completion of 
such reservoir or reservoirs which, if not completed 
at the date of the passage of this Act shall be con¬ 
structed and completed within two years after filing 
such declaratory statement, such person, company, 
or corporation shall have the same accurately sur¬ 
veyed, as hereinafter provided, and shall file in the 
United States Land Office in the district in which 
such reservoir is located a map or plat showing the 
location of such resoevoir, which map or plat shall 
lie transmitted by the register and receiver of said 
United States Land Office to the Secretary of the In¬ 
terior and approved by him, and thereafter such land 
shall be reserved from sale by the Secretary of the 
Interior so long as such reservoir is kept in repair 
and water kept therein. 

31 Although the title indicates that lands are to 
be sold for reservoir sites, the act does not provide 
the sale of any ands, and therefore no lands can be 


sold under its provisions. This act, however, directs 
the Secretary of the Interior to reserve the lands 
from sale after the approval of the map showing the 
location of the resorVoir. 

32. Any person, live-stock company, or transpor¬ 
tation Corporation engaged in breeding, grazing, 
driving, or transporting live stock in order to obtain 
the benefits of the act must file a declaratory state¬ 
ment in the United States Land Office in the district 
where the land is located. 

33. When the applicant is a corporation it should 
file also a copy of its articles of information and 
proofs of its organization, as required in paragraph 
5, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,and 11. 

34. The declaratory statement must be made 
under oath and sholud be drawn in accordance with 
Form 9 (page 342), and must contain the following 
statements: 

First. The post-office address of the applicant; 
the county in which the reservoir is to be or has been 
constructed; the description by the smallest legal Sub¬ 
divisions, 40-acre tracts or lots, of the land sought 
to be reserved, under no circumstances exceeding 
160 acres'; that the land is not occupied or otherwise 
claimed; that to the best of the applicant’s knowledge 
and belief the land is not mineral or otherwise reserv¬ 
ed; the business of the applicant, Including a full 
and minute statement of the extent to which he is 
engaged in breeding, grazing - ,-driving, or transport¬ 
ing live stock, giving the number and kinds of such 
stock, the jdace where they are being bred or grazed, 
and whether within an enclosure or upon unenclosed 
lands, and also from where and to where they are 
being driven or transported; the amount and descrip¬ 
tion of the land owned or claimed by the applicant 
in the vicinity of the proposed reservoir; that no 
part of the land sought to be reserved is or will be 
fenced, but the same will be kept open to the free use 
of any person’desiring to water animals of any kind; 
and that the lands so sought to be reserved are not, 
by reason of their proximity to other lands reserved 
for resOrvoirs, excluded from reservation by the 
regulations and rulings of the land department. 

Second. The location of the reservoir described 
by the smallest legal subdivisions, forty-acre tracts 
or lots, its area in acres, its capacity in gallons, the 
source from which water is to be obtained for such 
reservoir, whether there are any streams or springs 
within two miles of the land sought to be reserved, 
and if so, wliere. 

Third. The number, location, and area of all 
Other reservoir sites filed upon by the applicant, es¬ 
pecially designating those located in the same county. 














6 PUBLIC LAND. 


MISCELLANY. 


WE WANT TO KNOW. 

Under this head the publishers will ask a number 
of questions each week, and inv'ite answers to them 
by any of our readers who may be interested in the 
development of their districts. We wish it distinct¬ 
ly understood that the answers must be composed of 
facts, wholly freed from all fiction, and based upon 
the personal knowledge of the person answering 
the question. As an evidence of good faith always 
give full name and postoffice, but not for publication. 

Where there is a deposit of white sand west of the 
Rocky Mountains that can be used for the manufac¬ 
ture of glass. State exact location, distance from 
railroad, and kind of road to station, whether it is 
being used and for what purpose, name of post-office 
of owner and approximate extent of deposit, if the 
same has been developed. 


Of every concerted action on the part of the State 
delegation, member of Congress or Board of Trade 
of any city that has for its purpose the opening of 
either of the seventy Indian Reservations in the Unit¬ 
ed States to appropriation under the general land 
laws or by some special aot. State the full name and 
location of.the reservation, what is being done in 
that direction and by whom. 


The name and post-office address of each person 
owning patented land within the limits of any Forest 
Reservation in the United States. State also the 
name of the reservation within which the land is lo¬ 
cated and if possible the description of 'the land with 
reference to section, township and range and the U. 
S. land distrit, and also the amount of land owned. 


One year’s subscription will be added to the credit 
of any subscriber who furnishes us absolutely cor¬ 
rect answers to any of the above questions. 


PERSONALS. 

W. J. Clark, Frank Jewell and H. Merley, of 
Grand Rapids, Michigan, are looking up Southern 
Oregon timber lands for an eastern syndicate. They 
are operating in the sugar pine belt of Klamath 
County at present. 

J. A/Macrum, United States Inspector of For¬ 
est Reserves is making an examination of the Oregon 
Forest Reserves. Last week he visited the Ashland 
and Cascade Reserves. 

Senator Mitchell of Oregon has recommended 


the appointment of George W. Bilbee as receiver of 
the Oregon City Land Office and President Roose¬ 
velt will hand in this name for confirmation. 

Colonel Rad Litt, Indian agent at Anadarko, 
Oklahoma, has applied to the Secretary of the Inter¬ 
ior Department for troops to eject United States 
Marshals and others who jumped about two hundred 
claims on the recently opened Kiowa-Comanche In¬ 
dian Reservation. These were cases where large 
quantities of land had been alloted to individual In¬ 
dian claimants. The squatters are of the opinion 
that the allotments are illegal and their settlements 
were made on the disputed lands in order to obtain a 
basis for the legal determination of the question. The 
sixty days allowed for filing the preference applica¬ 
tions allowed those who drew lucky numbers expired 
on the 5 th, after which date it was a free rush for 
all comers, for anything that was left. 


DES MOINES, IOWA. 

Register Thornton S. Howard and Receiver Ste¬ 
phen J. Loughren of the Des Moines office have 
charge of all the public land business in the State of 
Iowa, yet they haven’t made a new homestead entry 
for many weeks. There is no* vacant Government 
land in the State and their whole time is taken up in 
adjusting conflicting grants of the various kinds 
which not only conflict with each other, but also with 
the entries of private parties, thus causing the entries 
to be suspended, pending the adjustment of the 
grants. 


Section Five, which is apart of the City of Aber- 
- deen, Washington, has recently been awarded to 
Messrs. Book, Benn, Hopkins and Freeman by a 
judgment entered in their favor by Judge Hanford 
of the U. S. Circuit Court. Final Receiver’s Receipt 
issued for this land in 1884, but the entry was attack¬ 
ed by the Northern Pacific Railroad Company and 
the land has been under litigation ever since; not¬ 
withstanding patent issued on the final receipt in 
1896. Proceedings for the partition of the lands has 
been‘commenced in the Superior Court and the now 
famous section which has lain idle for so many years 
will soon be converted into homes. 


The fall wheat in Washington and Idaho have had 
refreshing rains during the past week and are looking 
green and happy as a result. 


Oil is a common article of fuel in San Franciscp, 
and its comparative cost with coal is about one-half. 


















PUBLIC LAND. 


7 


ANSWERS TO SUBSCRIBERS. 

Under this head complete answers will be given 
to subscribers’ questions concerning the public land 
of the United States. Name and address of each 
subscriber must be given with letter asking the 
question. 

E. H. S., Virginia : Will you kindly inform me* 
i, how many acres of timber land one person can 
purchase, if there is a limit; 2, on what terms; 3, is 
an immediate occupancy necessary; 4, do the rules 
governing the sale of timber lands apply to the sale 
of grazing lands; 5, can some one make the pur¬ 
chase for me without my having to go to Washing¬ 
ton ? 

Ans.—-1. The right to purchase land under the Act 
of June 3, 1878 (which is the Timber and Stone 
law), is limited to 160 acres, one may purchase less 
but not more. 2. The terms are cash to be paid as 
follows: $10 for advertising the notice, paid on day 
the land is applied for, proof of the character of the 
land will be taken in about seventy days from date 
of application, when if it is found satisfactory the 
entry may be completed by the additional payment 
of about two dollars for testimony fees, ten dollars 
for final receipt, and $2.50 per acre for the land. 
The proof must be made within ninety days from 
the date of the application, and ordinarily the appli¬ 
cation uses the right to purchase under that law, 
whether title to the land is actually obtained or not. 
Personal examination of the land and attendance 
on the day of the sale is one of the requirements. 
The timber land law does not apply to grazing lands 
which are not TIMBER lands. 


K. S., Kansas: Is there any land suitable for 
general farming subject to homestead entry in the 
State of Washington, and if so where can maps or 
other data be obtained that will give the location of 
the same? 

Ans.—Yes there are thousands of acres of this 
class of land, in eastern Washington. The prairie 
landfs chiefly in the “Big Bend” district, of Lincoln, 
Adams, Douglas and Franklin counties. The timber, 
hay, 'bottom and mineral lands are scattered over 
every other county in the State, and many fine op¬ 
portunities are to be found in each of them. If you 
will state your plan of farming, we will undertake 
to suggest a locality where you can obtain land 
suited to your needs. 

O. G. R., Idaho: I filed a homestead on a lot con¬ 
taining 44.98 acres about'six months ago, the lot had 


been vacant for over three years after all the land 
had been filed on. Can I now purchase it is an iso- 
alted tract from the Government ? 

Ans.—You cannot for the reason that your entry 
for the land took it out of the “Isolated Class” and 
made it “Appropriated.” In order to make it possi¬ 
ble to bring it under the provisions of the isolated 
Tract Law, it would be necessary for you to relin¬ 
quish your entry, and then if it remained open to 
entry for over three years after the date of your re¬ 
linquishment and there is no timber on the land it 
would be of that character which the Commissioner 
of the General Land Office is authorized to order into 
the market under Section 2455 as amended by the 
Act of February 26, 1895 (The Isolated Tract Law). 
Probably the best way for you to acquire title to this 
land, since it is evident that you do not wish to earn 
it by residence, cultivation and improvement, is to 
locate Soldier’s Additional homestead scrip upon it. 
You can purchase a twenty-three to forty acre block 
of scrip and then pay the difference in the acreage at 
$2.50 per acre (your land being double minimum). 


A. R. S., Washington: A. filed water right on 
small spring on Government land and alt no time has 
he done anything with it. One year after A.’s filing 
of water right, B. made homestead entry of the land. 
Can A. hold any right or title to the land, and what 
privileges would he be entitled to ? 

Ans.—On your statement of the case it would ap¬ 
pear that A. has no rights in the premises if he sim¬ 
ply filed what is ordinarily known as a water right, 
and failed to use it; if however, his was a resorvoir 
claim under the Act of January 13, 1897, he of course 
would be entitled to the use of the spring. See Land 
Laws and Decisions, 


C. T. H., Washington : Can I take a timber claim, 
since I already have a homestead? Can a married, 
woman take a timber claim also ? 

Ans.—Yes you can acquire title to 160 acres, of 
timber land under the act of June 3. 1878, notwith¬ 
standing you have an. hundred and sixty acre home¬ 
stead, and Uncle Sam will not feel that his generos¬ 
ity has been overtaxed if your wife acquires title to 
160 acres under the act of June 3, 1878 (the Timber 
and Stone law), Providing she pays for it with her 
own money, and you are not in fact furnishing it 
for her in order to defeat the requirements of the 
law, that not more than 160 acres shall be allowed 
one person under this act. 








NOV 11 1901 


8 


PUBLIC LAND. 


Land Offices and Officers of the United States. 


E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior Department, Washington, D. C. 
Binger Hermann, Commissioner General Land Office, Washington, I). O' 


Alabama— 

Huntsville. 

Montgomery. 

Alaska— 

Rampart. 

Sitka. 

St. Michael. 

Arizona— 

Prescott. 

Tucson. 

Arkansas— 

Camden. 

Dardanelle. 

Harrison. 

Little Rock. 

California— 

Eureka. 

Independence. 

Los Angeles. 

Marysville. 

Redding. 

Sacraemnto. 

San Francisco ... 

Stockton. 

Susanville. 

Visalia. 

Colorado— 

Akron. 

Del Norte. 

Denver. 

Durango. 

Gunnison. 

Glenwood Springs 

Hugo. 

Leadville. 

Lamar. 

Montrose. 

Pueblo. 

Sterling. 

Florida— 

Gainesville. 

Idaho— 

Blackfoot. 

Boise. 

Coeur d’Alene — 

Hailey. 

Lewiston. 

Iowa— 

Des Moines. 

Kansas— 

Colby. 

Dodge City. 

Topeka. 

Wakeeny. 

Louisiana— 

Natchitoches. 

New Orleans...... 

Michigan— 

Marquette. 

Minnesota— 

Crookston. 

Duluth. 

Marshall. 

St. Cloud. 

Mississippi— 

Jackson. 

Missouri— 

Boonville. 

Ironton. 

Springfield. 

Montana— 


REGISTER. 

John A. Steele. 

Robert Barker. 

P. M. Nullen. 

John W. Dudley. 

Franklin Moses. 

Fredrick A. Tritle, Jr.. 
Milton R. Moore. 

Charles T. Duke. 

Joseph H. Battenfteld.. 
Johnl. Worthington... 
Harry H. Myers. 

Henry A. Olesten. 

Stafford W. Austin... 
Angus J. Crookshank. 
Frank W. Johnson.... 
Frank M. Swasey...... 

Thomas Fraser. 

Aaron B. Hunt. 

John D. Maxey. 

Thomas S. Roseberry. 
Geo. W. Stewart. 

Peter Campbell. 

James H. Baxter. 

Charles D. Ford. 

Fredrick C. Perkins... 

Melvin A. Deering. 

John F. Squire. 

Lon E. Foote. 

Wat T. Beall. 

Willia mA. Merrill. 

James A. Layton. 

John R. Gordon. 

David C. Fleming. 

Walter G. Robinson... 

Lorenzo R. Thomas... 

James King. 

David H. Budlong.... 

Neal J. Sharp. 

John B. West. 

Thornton S. Howard.. 

Kleber E. Wilcockson. 

Thomas A. Scates. 

George W. Fisher. 

Isaac T. Purcell. 

J. Ernest Breda. 

Walter L. Cohen.. 

Thomas Scadden. 

Sylvester Peterson.... 
William E. Culkin.... 

Cyrus P. Shepard. 

Myron D. Taylor. 

James Hill.... 

William H. Martin — 

George Steel. 

Martin V. Gideon.. 


RECEIVER. 
Herschel V. Cashin. 
John C. Leftwich. 

Wm. R. Edwards. 
Albert J. Apperson. 
Albert E. Rose. 

John C. Martin. 

John H. Bauman. 

Edward A. Shicker. 
John G. Chitwood. 
Felix S. Baker. 

John E. Bush. 

James F. Thompson. 
Frank E. Densmore. 
Arthur W. Kinney. 
Henry Malloch. 

Lloyd L. Carter. 
William A. Newcum 
Sargent S. Mortin. 
George A. McKenzie. 
Alfred H. Taylor. 
Othello Scribner. 

George W. Warner. 
Peter F. Barclay. 
Benjamin K Kimberly 
Daniel L. Sheets. 

Miss Martha C. Brown 
James W. Ross. 

John P. Dickinson. 
Fred Butler. 

C. Frost Liggett. 

John E. Pelton. 

John J. Lambert. 
Charles B. Timberlake 

Henry S. Chubb. 

George B. Rogers. 
Edward E. Garrett. 
Charles D. Warner. 
Wm. A. Hodgman. 
Charles H. Garby. 

Stephen J. Loughran. 

Cyrus Anderson. 

Lewis J. Pettijohn. 
Rudolph B. Welch. 
Frank W. King 

Charles J. Greene. 
Charles P. Johnston. 

John Jones. 

August F. George. 

Jay M. Smith. 
Christopher F. Case. 
Alva Eastman. 

George E. Matthews. 

Herman Schmidt. 

C. Sanford Russell. 
George A. Ramsey. 


Bozeman. 

Helena. 

Kalispell. 

Lewistown. 

Miles City. 

Missoula. 

Nebraska— 

Alliance. 

Broken Bow. 

Lincoln. 

McCook. 

North Platte_ 

O’Neill. 

Sidney. 

Valentine. 

Nevada— 

Carson City. 

New Mexico— 

Clayton. 

Las Cruces. 

Roswell. 

Santa Fe. 

North Dakota- 

Bismarck. 

Devil’s Lake. 

Fargo. 

Grand Fonts. 

Minot. 

Oklahoma— 

Alva. 

♦El Reno. 

Enid.. 

Guthrie... 

Kingfisher. 

♦Lawton. 

Mangum. 

Oklahoma. 

Perry. 

Woodward. 

Oregon— 

Burns. 

La Grande. 

Lake view. 

Oregon City. 

Roseburg. 

The Dalles. 

South Dakota— 

Aberdeen. 

Chamberlain. 

Huron. 

Mitchell. 

Pierre. 

Rapid City. 

Watertown. 

Utah- 

Salt Lake City... 

Washington- 
North Yakima.... 

Olympia. 

Seattle. 

Spokane. 

Vancouver. 

Walla Walla. 

Waterville. 

Wisconsin— 

Ashland. 

Eau Claire_ 

Wyoming— 

Buffalo. 

Cheyenne. 

Evanston. 

Douglas.. 

Lander. 

Sundance.. 


Albert L. Love. 

George D. Greene., 

Frank H. Nash_ 

Edward Brassey... 

Samuel Gordon. 

Elmer E. Hershey. 


Fred M. Dorrington... 
James Whitehead.,... 
Joseph W. Johnson... 
Francis M. Rathbun. 

George E. French. 

Stephen J. Weekes... 

Robley D. Harris. 

James C. Pettijohn... 


Oliver H. Gallup. 

Edward W. Fox. 
Emil Solignac.... 
Howard Leland.. 
Manuel R. Otero. 


Alex. C. McGillivray.. 

Ole Serumgard. 

Charles N. Valentine. 

Ernest H. Kent. 

Thomas E. Olsgard... 

Robert A. Cameron.. 


James B. Cullison_ 

John Boles. 

Emory D. Brownlee. 
Henry D. McNight. 

John A. Trotter. 

Seymour S. Price. 

Alfred H. Boles. 

Frank D. Healy. 


George W. Hayes_ 

Edward W. Bartlett. 
Eldon M. Brattain... 
Charles B. Moores... 

Joseph T. Bridges_ 

Jay P. Lucas. 


John S. Vetter. 

William V. Lucas. 

Charles A. Blake. 

George E. Foster. 

Albert Wheelon. 

George P. Bennett.... 
Lee Stover. 


Frank D. Hobbs. 


Walter J. Reed.. 

Frank G. Deckebach. 
Edward P. Tremper.. 
William H. Ludden.... 
William R. Dunbar... 

John M. Hill.. 

Matthew B. Malloy_ 

August Doenitz. 

Alfred Cypreansen.... 


Prince A. Gatchell_ 

William E. Chaplin... 

Charles Kingston. 

Albert D. Chamberlain. 

William T. Adams_ 

Alpha E. Hoyt. 

♦^Officers that have just been established to accomodate the business 
from theJKiowa and Comanche reservations. 


Andrew J. Edsall. 
John Horsky. 

William C. Whipps. 
Louis W. Eldridge. 
James M. Rhoades. 
William O. Ranft. 

William R. Akers. 
Frank H. Young. 
Thomas P. Kennard. 
Joel A. Piper. 

Frank Bacon. 

Richard H. Jenness. 
James L.McIntosh, Jr 
Albert L. Towle. 

David H. Hall. 

Albert W. Thompson. 
Henry D. Bowman. 
David L. Geyer. 
Edward F. Hobart. 

John Satterlund. 
Henry E. Baird. 
DeWitt C. Tufts. 
Christian L. Lindstrom 
Abner . Hanscom. 

William J. French. 


David W. Eastman. 
Fredrick E. McKinley. 
Jacob V. Admire. 

Tames D. Maguire. 

John A. Oliphant. 
Anton H. Classen. 

Joel R. Scott. 

John W. Miller. 

Charles Newell. 
Samuel O. Swackhamer 
Harry Bailey. 

William Galloway. 
James H. Booth. 

Otis Patterson. 

Frank A. Brown. 
Charles L. Brockway. 
John Westdahl. 
Thomas C. Burns. 
Henry E. Cutting. 
William S. Warner. 
George W. Case. 

George A. Smith. 

Miles Cannon. 

John O’B. Scobey. 
Columbus T. Tyler. 
Samuel A. Wells. 

Lynn B. Clough. 
Thomas Mosgrove. 
Lucien E. Kellog. 

Duportal G. Sampson 
Alexander Meggett. 


Ephraim H. Smock. 
Edward A. Slack. 
Frank M. Foote. 
Merris C. Barrow. 
Mrs. Minnie Williams. 
Samuel A. Young. 


(jlub Offer ncw °pp or,unitie$ i ° r y° u and 

For a limited time “PUBLIC LAND” will be sent to five 
different addresses when sent in by one person for five dollars. 

Each issue of “PUBLIC LAND” will contain more of value 
o the subscriber interested in public land matters than the full 
rice of the year’s subscription. Some will receive a hundred 
mes more. Get your friends to subscribe now. Send all re- 
ittances whenever possible by Post Office or Express Money 
der, made payable to “PUBLIC LAND.” 
ce 124-25 Auditorium Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


400 HOMESTEAD CLAIMS IN ADAMS 
COUNTY, STATE OF WASHINGTON. 

We have a Bine Print Map showing the exact 
location of all the vacant laud in that part of Adams 
county, state of Washington, that is within the Spo¬ 
kane Falls district, which is corrected up to date, 
that we will give to every club raiser who sends us 
in ten paid yearly subscribers at one dollar each. The 
regular price of the map is $2.50. 
























































































































































































































ADVERTISEMENTS. 


“PUBLIC 

LAND” 

has made several of its readers over 

$500 

Byjjbringing opportunities to their 
notice which they would [not have 
learned in any other way. There 
are many more of these- 

$500 

pieces in store for those who read 

“PUBLIC 

LAND” 

There will be more opportunities 
than you can possibly use, so just 
speak to four of your friends about 
subscribing and take advantage 
of our clubbing offer on page 8. 


ATTEND THE 

Puget Sound Business College 

for a practical, up-to-date business course. 
Bookkeeping, penmanship, stenography 
and typewriting. Send ten cents for sam¬ 
ple dozen cards and how you can earn 
some money during spare time. Address 
D. M. KNAUF, Principal, 902 Yakima ave., 
Tacoma, Wash. 


0. W. KENNEDY, 
Livery Stable!, 


Gentle Driving Horses. Good Drivers to 
show you the land you want to see. 
Everything first class. 


ODESSA, 


WASHINGTON. 


DOUGLAS HOTEL, 
William Newlove, Prop., 


AMERICAN PLAN. 

$1.00 and $1.60 Per Day. 
Prompt, Neat, Clean Service. 


WILSON CREEK, 


WASHINGTON. 


WILSON CREEK LIVERY STABLE 
R. J. Armstrong, Prop. 


GOOD HORSES, GOOD RIGS, GOOD 
DRIVERS, FIRST CLASS 
SERVICE. 


WILSON CREEK. 


WASHINGTON. 


CLAIR HUNT, 

Civil JBngineer 
U. S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor. 

B0SSBURG, - - WASHINGTON. 


INLAND PRINTING COMPANY, 

610-612 Sprague Ave. 

Print Anything. Try us with your 
next order. 

It will save you money. 


M. L. SCHERMERHORN, 
United States Commissioner 


'here’s lots of good Vacant Agricultural Land 
tributary to 

LIND, . - - WASHINGTON 


WENTWORTH CLOTHING GO. 

Reliable Mens’ and 
Boys’ Outfitters. 

709-11 Riverside Ave. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 


J. W. McCDNE, 

Farm and City Property For Sale 
or Exchange. 

MONEY TO LOAN. 

7-8 Sherwood Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


JOHN MeDOWELL, 

United States Commissioner and 
Justice of the Peace. 


Gold Butte, Mont. 


h; S. Swenson, Clyde C. Henion, 

United States Commissioner. Notary Public' 

SWENSON & HENION, 

Timber and Agricultural Lands. Homestead 
and timber locations. Agents townsite of New¬ 
port. 

Publishers of NEWPORT MINER, $i. 5 o'peryear. 
NEWPORT, WASHINGTON. 


PIANOS 

Being the only dealer in 
Spokane who buys direct 
from the manufacturer in 
carload lots, and for cash 
only, I am in a position 
to save you money if you 
want a piano.- 

AUGUST MEYER 

919 Riverside Ave. 


ip oi moms coin, wosuiion 

A fine Blue Print Map of that part of 
Adams County, which is in the 
Spokane Falls, Washington Land 
District, comprising thirty-two town¬ 
ships and showing all the vacnat land 
in each township and corrected up 
to date will be sent by mail on re¬ 
ceipt of price—$2.50. Address 

“PUBLIC LAND” 

124-125 Auditorium Bldg. 

Spokane, Washington. 



































This will introduce the Northwestern Busi- { 
■PB 1 1 H 11 Ip* IBJ^KL ness College to the readers of Public Land. The j 

purpose of this advertisement is to induce the \ 
'44118I P u ^ c to investigate the merits.of the institution, \ 

■Bil li J'i/ ff!«r 3 fkia' 1 for on MERIT we build. 1 


Its students hold United States records for 
proficiency in Civil Service and Bookkeeping. 

FIVE COURSES OF STUDY. 

Shorthand and Typewriting, Civil Service, Busi¬ 
ness, Normal, and Telegraphy. 

For detailed information call at the office or 
send for catalogue. 


SPOKANE, WASH. 


Walton & Goodsell, Land Attorneys 


Leave of absence from your Homestead. Applications to 
amend your Homstead and making of all papers pertaining to 
Public Lands. Contests, protests and other bearings before 
any U. S. Land Office. The Commissioner of the General 
Land Office and the Interior Department. Mining Applica¬ 
tions. Military Bounty Land Warrants. Forest Reserve, 
Soldier’s Additional Homestead, and all other Land Scrips 
bought and sold. We can get your tangles straightened with¬ 
out your coming to the office 




Office Rooms 124-25 Auditorium Block, Phone Main 369 


2ton 






















PVBL1SHED 
WEEKLY. 


© 


£ 0EVOTCD TO THOSE 

INTERESTED IK-w 
THE PVBLIC Lilies 
Of 

< ^THE VntTEP STATES 


$1.50 PER YEAR 
in ADVAriCE. 

'Uwg/Mr/m^ 


VOL. I. No. T3- 


Spokane, Wash., Nov. 12, 1901. 


Single Copies, 10 Cents 


CO N'T ENTS. 


Editorial— 

What Have You Done ?. 1 


Current Topics—- 

The Louisiana Purchase. 


Minerals and Timber— 

Seven Feet of Silver. 3 

What Have You Done?—Con.. 3 


New Opportunities— 

Helena, Montana.4 

107,000 Acres in Lincoln Coun¬ 
ty, Washington. 4 


Land Laws and Decisions— 

An Act to Secure Homesteads 
to Actual Settlers on the Pub¬ 
lic Domain. . 5 

Additional Homestead Entry.. . 5 

Extending the Time for Making 
ing Final Proof and Payment. 5 


Miscellany— 

We Want to Know. 6 

Personals. 6 

Answers to Subscribers. 7 

Land Offices and Officers of the 
United States (corrected).... 8 


m 


















































ADVERTISEMENTS. 


JOSEPH HUDSON SHOUT, 

Attorney at Law 
and 

United States Commissioner, 


VICKSBURG, 


MISSISSIPPI. 


ROLLIN J. REEVES, 


United States Commissioner, 


WILBUR, 


WASHINGTON. 


ALFRED THOMPSON, 
Attorney at Law, Notary Public, 
U. S. Court Commissioner, 

Real Estate, Loans, Abstracts, 


ns MAIN ST., 


OLYMPIA, WASH. 


SIDNEY MOOR HEATH, 
United States Commissioner 

In and for DiBtrict of Washington. 


T. D. HASTIE, 

Attorney at Law, 

U. S. Court Commissioner. 


Homestead Filings and Final Proofs. 
OROFINO, IDAHO. 


ORIN H. WOODS, 
Surveyor and U. S. Commissioner. 

Land Filings and Final Proofs. 
Ditches Surveyed and Recorded. 


BASIN, 


WYOMING. 


JNO. JAS. GRAVES, 


Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, 
Conveyancer, Real Estate, 


MEYERS FALLS, 


WASHINGTON. 


FRED’K J. HOAGLAND, 


HOQUIAM, 


WASHINGTON. 


H. G. LAKE, B. S., B. S. B., L. L. D., 

Attorney and Counsellor at Law, 
U. 8 . Commissioner, Notary Public. 

Land Scrip of all kinds. 

School Land selections made. 

JOSEPH, OREGON. 


A. R. SWANSON, 
United States Commissioner, 


Notary Public, Loans' 
and Collections—Conveyancer 


WILSON CREEK, 


WASHINGTON. 


CUMMIN G BROS. & POWELL, 
Choice Timber and Homestead Loca¬ 
tions on Government Land. 

TIMBER CRUISED AND ESTIMATES GIVEN 

Fruit, grazing and ranch lands and pine and 
cedar timber for sale. 


80114 Riverside Ave. 


SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


Attorney at Law, 


ODESSA 


WASHINGTON. 


C. H- HOLDEN, 


Attorney at Law. 


Choice timber lands in large or small 
tracts. Timber land cruised and estimates 
given. Government lands located. Fruit 
lands. Ranch land. Grazing land for sale. 
Climate unsurpassed; no cold, no heat, 
lands, ranch land, grazing land for sale, 
no cyclones. Correspondence solicited. 


FLORENCE, OREGON. 


J. W. MARSHALL, 
Attorney at Law. 


Practice In all the Courts. 


207 Auditorium Blk., SPOKANE, WASH 


HOMES FOR THE HOMESEEKERS 

LANDS FOR THE LANDLESS. 

We have a large list of the choicest 
farming lands in the Big Bend and 
throughout the Inland Empire. Improved 
farms $15 to $20 per acre. This is the sec¬ 
tion that produces 30,000,000 bushels of 
wheat per annum. Fine fruit; no failures; 
ideal climate. Money placed for non-resi¬ 
dents on first mortgages on first class 
land. Trantum & Schoonover, Odessa/Wn. 


J. B. ZIEGLER, 

Notary Public, Real Estate and Fire 
Insurance Agent. 


IMPROVED FARM LANDS, RAW 
LANDS AND TOWN PROPER¬ 
TIES FOR SALE. 


Prices and Terms will be Furnished 
Promptly. 


ODESSA, 


Office on First Avenue. 

WASHINGTON. 



Quickly secured. CtlR FEE DUE WHEN PATENT 
OBTAINED. Send model, sketch or photo, with 
description for free report as to patentability. 48-PAGE 
HAND-BOOK FREE. Contains references and fall 
information. WHITE FOB COPY OF OUR SPECIAL 
OFFER. It is the most liberal proposition ever made by 
a patent attorney, and EVERY INVENTOR SHOULD 
READ IT before applying for patent. Address: 


H.B, 


'i 


m. 


PATENT LAWYERS, 

t*Dreii Bldg., WASHINGTON, D. C. 


Free Homesteads. 


There are over 100 good quarter sections with 
in short distance of t.he Great Northern Railroad 
that are subject to homastead entry, the same 
kind of lend that produced 40 bushels of wheat 
to the acre this year. We have an accurate 
knowledge of these vacant tracts and will locate 
desirable parties on them at very reasonable 
rates. Call on 


H. E. STONE, 

With O. W. Stone Undertaking Co. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON 


Sec our Clubbing Offer 
on Eighth Page. 





















































PUBLIC LAND. 


54 E OF | 

COHORESS, 

OH€ COW Reaww 

NOV, IS t 901 

CopywoHT W™* 


iUA«8 


XXo. 


oopyV 


m/m£/7M£/? /j r//r//0P£ or wr/y/trm 



, PVBLISHED 
^ WEEKLY. 

WALTON 5 GOODSELL « 
PVBLI5HERS. V 


INTERESTED in—/ 
THE PVBLIC E/\nB5 
-OF-" 

THE VrtITED STATES 

’ LEO WALTON, EDITOR. ? 




$1.50 PER YEAR 
in ADVAHCE. ^ 


SINGLE COPIES 
TEN CENTS. 


Offices 124-125 Auditorium Bldg., Spokane, Wash. 


ADVKk'L'ISlN O RATES <)N APPLICATION. 


Eutered at Spokane, Wash., as Second Class Mail Matter. 


Copyrighted 1901 hy Walton & Goodsell. 


Vol. 1. 


Spokane, Wash , Nov. 12,1901. 


Mo. 18 . 


WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? 

In Spokane’s front door-yard there are two mag¬ 
nificent fountains, which are ready to play a steady 
stream of wealth into its 'basin as soon as a turn of 
the lever is made. 


These sources are the South Half of the Colville 
Reservation and the Spokane Indian Reservation, 
both of them rich in mineral and natural resources. 
On the South Half there is enough gold, silver ftnd 
lead already blocked out to keep the miners busy for 
'twenty years, and the more development work there 
is done on the claims, the greater the amount of ore 
that heaves into sight. The worst hinderance the 
pioneers in this rich mineral and agricultural belt 
have to contend with at the present time, is the lack 
of facilities for getting its ores to a smelter for treat¬ 
ment, and for getting machinery and supplies into 
the mines for their successful and economical oper¬ 
ation. This condition of affairs is solely due to the 
fact that the law as it now stands makes it impossi¬ 
ble for anyone to acquire title or possession to any 
land within the “South Half ’ which is not shown to 
be valuable for mineral. In other words possession 
under the settlement laws of the United States are de¬ 
nied the enterprising citizen, and the thousands of 
acres of rich agricultural and grazing lands on the 
“South Half” are securely locked up, to the detriment 
of the nation and particularly to the Inland Empire 
of which Spokane is the Capital. 

A worse condition than is present on die South 
Half” is what surrounds the Spokane Indian Reser¬ 
vation, while not nearly so large as the ‘ South Halt 


this reserve is known to be very rich in mineral as 
well as coal, with more than sufficient agricultural 
land to give each Indian his usual pro rata. The 
strict surveillance of thelndian police makes it utter¬ 
ly impossible for any one to do the least amount of 
prospecting, much less to determine with any degree 
of certainty the extent of the mineral deposits. Suf¬ 
ficient is known, however, to satisfy any one who 
will make even an cursory examination, that there 
are untold riches locked up within the limits of the 
Spokane Reservation. It is 'known that the develop¬ 
ed mineral leads on the “South Half” of the Colville 
Reservation (which adjoins the Spokane Reserve 
on the north) run north and south, and that these 
leads are staked right down to the Spokane line; that 
they have been and are constantly being developed 
and are every day proving their value by yielding 
ore that nets over $100 per ton after paying all ex¬ 
penses of mining, shipment and treatment. 

The coal measures and good prospects have been 
uncovered on what is known as the old road across 
the Reservation, and also on a by road passing from 
the old to the new, and in many other places. Men 
who have had ripe experience in coal prospecting 
have pronounced the indications very flattering and 
believe that small development will successfully tap 
large coal bodies. 

The opening of these rich resources to appropria¬ 
tion will mean a vast extension of the business inter¬ 
ests of Spokane, and the Inland Empire. Each citi¬ 
zen as well as each business man has an interest in 
the opening of the “South Half” of the Colville 
Reservation to homestead settlement, and the Spo¬ 
kane Indian Reservation which is only separated 
from it bv an imaginary line, to mineral exploration. 

The “North Half” of the Colville Reservation has 
been open to settlement for a little over a year, but the 
settlers there are required to pay $i- 5 ° P er acre for 
the land in addition to the regular homestead fees 
2nd commissions. While the payments are easy 
(fifty cents per acre within two years from date of 
entry and one dollar before the issuance of final re¬ 
ceipt), they have nevertheless been the means of di¬ 
verting a large settlement that otherwise would have 
been made, had it been known that this leser vat ion 
would come under the provisions of. the “free home¬ 
stead” law. 

No one questions the fact that immense benefit 
must result from the passage of a law which would 
open the entire Colville Reservation to settlement 

( Continued on Page J.) 

























2 


PUBLIC LAND. 


CURRENT TOPICS. 


THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE. 

On December 20, 1803, the United States acquir¬ 
ed title to that part of France’s vast domain which 
was then known as the Colony of Louisiana, and for 
little more than the value of the city’s parks wherein 
is to be held the exposition commemorative of the 
purchase. 

This great 'exposition which is to be held in St. 
Louis, Missouri, two years hence and in which the 
nation is going to join hands, will be the celebration 
of what is without doubt one of the greatest eqochs 
in American history, for when on the twentieth day 
of December in the third year , of the past century 
the French prefect announced to the Colonists of 
Louisiana and in the presence of the Soldiers of 
Spain, France and the United States that: 

“In conformity with the treaty I put -the United 
States in possession of Louisiana and its dependen¬ 
cies. The citizens and inhabiatnts who wish to re¬ 
main here and obey the laws are from this moment 
exonerated from the oath of fidelity to the French 
Republic.” 

And the American Governor proudly proclaimed: 

“The cession secures to you and your descendants 
the inheritance of liberty, perpetual laws, and magis ¬ 
trates whom you will elect yourselves.” 

Title was peaceably secured to the Territory, which 
is now included within the boundaries of Louisiana, 
Arkansas, Missouri, Ioiwa, North Dakota, South Da¬ 
kota, Nebraska, Kansas and a part of Minnesota, 
Montana, Wyoming and Colorado, as wel las Okla- 
hooma and Indian Territories. If the popular idea 
concerning the extent of this purchase is correct 
(which it is not), Washington, Oregon, Idaho and 
parts of Montana and Wyoming would also be di¬ 
rectly indebted to the wise, prompt and effective work 
of Jefferson, Monroe and Livingston, the great tri¬ 
umvirate whose diplomacy secured for the Nation 
the title to that immense Territory which contains 
571,873,920 acres. 

Commissioner Herman of the General Land Office 
has made a most careful, intelligent and painstaking 
examination of the title to this empire which is larg¬ 
er than- Great Britain, Germany, France, Spain, Por¬ 
tugal and Italy combined, and has found that the 
Oregon Country (of which Washington, Oregon, 
Idaho and parts of Montana and Wyoming are now 
formed), and has shown that they were not included 


in that purchase. It is due to his earnest and effective 
work in that •direction that the official map of the 
United States tells the true story of the acquisition 
of the so-called Oregon Country. Whether this Ter¬ 
ritory was embraced in the original purchase or not 
matters but little so far as the substantial benefit to 
the Nation is concerned, for without this purchase 
the “discovery of 1792,” “exploration of 1805,” “As¬ 
toria settlement, 1818,” or “Florida Treaty of 1819” 
would have been of little effect, but with it the United 
Staes became possessed of three of the richest States 
in he Union, and whose natural resources have hard¬ 
ly reached the preliminary state of development. 
While the great States which owe their existence to 
that remarkable purchase will no doubt be well rep¬ 
resented by magnificent exhibits that will properly 
tell the story of their immense natural resources, 
and productive power, sight should not be lost of 
the opportunities which they afford for the man with¬ 
out a home who is wiling to earn it, if given an op¬ 
portunity. 

The national representatives from the various pub¬ 
lic land States should unite their energies and secure 
an appropriation for the purpose of preparing an ex¬ 
hibit which would plainly show just what opportuni¬ 
ties were afforded by each land district in the Unit¬ 
ed States. This exhibit should be prepared by or 
under the direction of the Commissioner of the Gen- 
eraf Land Office, whose duties eminently fit him for 
the successful preparation of such a work. No per¬ 
son or officer of the Government has the facilities for 
acquiring such definite information as he, and if the 
present Commissioner should see fit to continue in 
the administration of the General Land Office it is 
doubtful if an equal sum of money could be spent 
in any other way that would bring one-half the be¬ 
neficent results to the States west of the Missouri 
River. 

Accurate information is constantly being collected 
by the Geological Survey division and other depart¬ 
ments of the Government besides that which is ob¬ 
tained by the General Land Office and if an appropri¬ 
ation of fifty thousand dollars was placed at the dis¬ 
posal of Hon. Binger Hermann, Commissioner of 
the General Land Office, an exhibit would be pre¬ 
sented that would not only be of immense practical 
benefit to each of the several States mentioned, but 
would be the most effective and impressive object les¬ 
son that could possibly be given the visitors of the 
extent and value of the purchase and also of the 
honor due the names of the Statesmen whose labors 
brought such rich rewards to this Nation. 








PUBLIC LAND. 


3 


MINERALS AND TIMBER. 


SEVEN FEET OF SILVER. 

One of the richest silver strikes that has been made 
in the northwest for many months was that which 
was made by sinking a working shaft on the Silver 
Seal mine, in Stevens County, Washington, a few 
days ago. The shaft cut through seven feet of al¬ 
most solid silver, in fact the weight of the silver in 
the ore out-balances the quartz. Many pieces of 
pure silver weighing an ounce and a half have been 
broken loose from the rock. There are over $200,000 
worth of this ore already blocked out and a much 
larger amont reasonably in sight as the ledge is over 
seven feet thick and the ore is continuous through 
all its parts. This mine is in the Cedar Canyon Min¬ 
ing District, twenty-four miles from Davenport on 
the Central Washington R. R. 

There are six mines in this camp that are steady 
shippers which, including the Silver Seal, are the 
Silver Queen, Deer Trail, Elephant, Providence and 
Orchid. A number of other claims have shipped 
and many more are getting in readiness to do so. 
Quite a little prospecting and development work is 
going on at the present time and each day’s end sees 
the camp richer and with brighter prospects than its 
predecessor. 

Heretofore .all the ore from this camp has been 
hauled to Davenport, but by the completion of the 
new road to Springdale, which has just been an¬ 
nounced, it is expected that a saving of nearly three 
dollars per ton will be made, by reason of the shorter 
haul, better grades and consequent reduction in the 
cost of transportation. 

About half of this ore is treated at Everett and the 
remainder at Northport. The cost of railroad trans¬ 
portation and treatment is about ten dollars per ton, 
for this ore. The cost of getting it to the railroad 
over the Springdale route will be about five dollars 
per ton, and as the bulk of the ore from this camp 
averages about one hundred dollars per ton, it can 
readily be seen that the Cedar Cayon Camp mines 
are destined to make their owners very wealthy. 

There are something over two hundred men em- 
poyed in the camp at the present time and this num¬ 
ber will be considerably increased in the near future. 

Deer Trail is the name of the post-office for the 
Cedar Canyon Camp,and which has four stores doing 
a good business.. The business men and mine own¬ 
ers are now trying to secure a daily mail service, and 
telephone connections with Spokane. 


Several valuable opals have been taken out of the 
mines along Snake River about six miles above Aso¬ 
tin in Asotin County, Washington, and the oppor¬ 
tunities for this kind of mining are numerous in that 
vicinity. 

The Yaquina Bay Coal and Oil Company’s Steam 
drilling outfit began operations on the Stanton farm, 
three miles north of Toledo', Oregon, last week. The 
company has a Keystone driller outfit and are prepar¬ 
ed to make a 2,000 foot puncture. 

The Fossil Wyoming oil fields are the easiest of 
development of any that has come to.our notice. 
The Wyoming Parraffine Oil Company’s well at that 
place is only 150 feet deep and is producing twenty- 
five barrels per day. The flow is steadily improving 
in both volume and quality. 

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? 

(Continued from Page .1) 

under the homestead laws without any payments to 
the Government for the account of the Indians. This 
being true the citizens should exert every energy to¬ 
ward securing the passage of this law during the 
next session of Congress. Something must be done 
besides discussing the matter with the neighbor, for 
wb ile this is valuable and necessary, the corporations 
which have the lobbyists at the National Capital 
must be made to feel that they have a direct interest 
in this matter. This law can be forced through by 
the ladies of the Inland Empire, if they will insist 
that every grocer and other business man with whom 
they deal, demands its passage of every wholesaler 
and transportation company (through some of its 
trade agents) with whom he deals. The most pow¬ 
erful assistance \ye can receive is from the transpor¬ 
tation companies and they, should be brought to a 
realization of our necessities in a manner that will 
reach them. Your dealer wants your trade and he 
•won’t mind throwing his influence to the support of 
this measure if you will assure him of the necessity 
for that action, in order, to hold your patronage. See 
to it that he registers a demand with his wholesaler 
at once, for his support of the measure, and if he 
neglects to do so at once, take your trade to some man 
who will. This rule should be applied in every line 
of business, for any business man who is not willing 
‘to advance the substantial prosperity of eastern 
■Washington should be denied the benefits which its 
great natural resources and enterprising citizens have 
made possible. 












4 


PUBLIC LAND. 


NEW OPPORTUNITIES. 


HELENA, MONTANA. 

A new wrinkle in land matters was launched last 
month by the State of Montana udnder the Arid 
Land Grant opening to settlement 33,000 acres of 
fine land which is to be irrig-ated by the State. The 
law provides for the sale of 160 acres to each settler 
at the actual cost of placing the water upon the land. 
The amount is divided into ten equal payments, to 
be completed in ten years. The deferred payments 
drawing six per cent interest. There are about 11, 
000 acres that are now ready for settement and it is 
expected that the other 22,000 acres which are in 
district number four will be under water in the near 
future. This land is in the Dearborn Valley in the 
Northern part of Lewis and Clarke County, of which 
Helena is the County seat, and also the location of 
the United States. Land Office. This land will be 
sold to actual settlers only, so the speculator will 
have no chance for operations in District No. 4. 
The land is most excellent for agricultural purposes 
and the settlers who avail themselves of this oppor¬ 
tunity to obtain title to 160 acres of Montana land 
will doubtless lay the foundation for a good home 
and the means of support for the remainder of their 
lives’. 


107,000 ACRES IN LINCOLN COUNTY, 
WASHINGTON. 

In Lincoln County, a part of the famous Big Bend 
Country of Eastern Washington 'where as much as 
sixty bushels to the acre of the finest blue Stem wheat 
grown anywhere in the United States was produced 
during the past season, and where the crop is so 
'heavy that three railroads cannot draw the wheat out 
fast enough to keep warehouse room for the crop 
that is being hauled in, there are over six hundred 
160 acre claims left for appropriation under the 
homestead law. Some of this land is rough and un¬ 
fit for cultivation, but the rough land will answer 
for pasturage. On many of the claims a full hund¬ 
red and sixty acres can be obtained, and in many 
cases two and three good claims can be had in the 
same section, so that if two or three friends wished to 
locate near each other they cuold do so. There are 
many streams, lakes and springs scattered all over 
the forty townships in which this land is located.* 
There are several of these claims that border on 
Sylvan and other lakes which are fine for trout fish¬ 
ing and duck shooting in the proper season. Some 


of these townships have as many as fifty full claims, 
while others do not have more than a few scattering 
forties and eighties that can neither be taken under 
the homestead law or can be purchased for $1.25 
per acre on making the proper application through 
the Local Land Office to the Commissioner of the 
General Land Office. 

This country is chiefly prairie and there is but little 
timber in it, although there is plenty for fuel pur¬ 
poses, in the northern and eastern parts. 

The Central Washington, The Great Northern, and 
the Northern Pacific railroads run through this 
country, but not'withstanding these transportation 
facilities they have been unable to handle the crop 
this year. The settlement of the county has been 
remarkably rapid during the past two years and the 
settlers generally are very prosperous, and contented. 
Many young men from different parts of the world 
located near and around Odessa on the Great North¬ 
ern last year who had barely enough money left with 
which to build them a little box house on their claims 
after paying the twenty-two dollar Land Office fee, 
were without teams, tools or supplies, but who had 
the proper kind of grit: They exchanged work with 
the older settlers, and by so doing got their claims 
plowed up and sowed to wheat last fall and this year 
have harvested thirty-five bushels of wheat from 
their claims. This is the kind of land that is left in 
Lincoln County, and those who make a homestead 
entry of it now will have a home and an income in a 
very short time, if they are willing to work. There 
are many choice claims in this county which were 
filed on over six months ago, where the entry men 
have failed to reside on them, and they can therefore 
be successfully contested. The effect of the success¬ 
ful contest would be to place the land back in the pub¬ 
lic domain, and it would then be entered die same as 
though it had never been filed upon. The cost of the 
contest varies from about ten to one hundred dollars, 
though twenty-five or thirty dollars would be a fair 
average. 


During the year just past there were 1,388 mineral 
and mill-right patents issued embracing 2,772 claims 
and containing an area of 50,852.46 acres, being 
S’459-93 acres more than was patented last year, 
although there was 27 less patents issued. This means 
that the claims were patented in groups to a larger 
extent than formerly. 


Los Angeles sprinkles a large portion of her streets 
with oil. 











PUBLIC LAND. 


5 


LAND LAWS AND DECISIONS. 

AN ACT TO SECURE HOMESTEADS TO 
ACTUAL SETTLERS ON THE PUB¬ 
LIC DOMAIN. 

(Act of May 20, 1862.) 

“Sec. 2. And be it Further Enacted, That the per¬ 
son applying for the benefit of this act shall upon ap¬ 
plication to the register of the land office in which he 
or she is about to make such entry, make affidavit 
before the said register or receiver that he or she 
is the head of a family, or is twenty-one years or more 
of age, or shall have performed service in the army 
or navy of the United States, and that he has never 
borne arms against the Government of the United 
States or given aid and comfort to its enemies, and 
that such application is made for his or her exclusive 
use and 'benefit, and that such entry is made for the 
purpose of actual settlement and cultivation, and not 
either directly or indirectly for the use or benefit of 
any other person or persons whosoever; and upon 
filing the said affidavit with the register or receiver 
-and on payment of ten dollars, he or she shall there¬ 
upon be permitted to enter the quantity of land speci¬ 
fied; Provided, however, that no certificate shall be 
given or patent issued therefor until the expiration 
of five years from the date of such entry; and if, at 
the expiration of such time, or at any time within 
two years thereafter, the person making such entry; 
or, if he be dead, his widow; or in case of her death, 
his heirs or devisee; or in case of a widow making 
such entry, her heirs or devisee, in case of her death; 
shall prove by two credible witnesses that he, she, 
or they have resided upon or cultivated the same 
for the term of five years immediately succeeding 
the 'time of filing the affidavit aforesaid, and shall 
make affidavit that no part of said land has been 
alienated, and that he has borne true allegiance to 
the Government of the United States; then, in such 
case, he, she, or they, if at that time a citizen of the 
United States, shall be entitled to a patent, as in other 
cases provided for by law : And Provided, Further, 
That in case of the death of both father and mother, 
leaving an infant child, or children, under twenty- 
one years of age, the right and fee shall enure to tht 
benefit of said infant child or children; and the ex¬ 
ecutor, administrator, or guardian may, at any time 
within two years after the death of the surviving 
parent, and in accordance with the laws of the State 
in which such children for the time being have their 
domicil, sell said land for the benefit of sard infants 
but for no other purpose; and the purchaser shall 


acquire the absolute title by the purchase, and be en¬ 
titled to a patent from the United States, on payment 
of the office fees and sum of money herein specified.” 

ADDITIONAL HOMESTEAD ENTRY. 

“Sec. 6. That every person entitled, under the 
provisions of the homestead laws, to enter a home¬ 
stead, who has heretofore complied with or who shall 
hereafter comply with the conditions of said laws, 
and who shall have made his final proof thereunder 
for a quantity of land less than one hundred and sixty 
acres and received the receiver’s final receipt therefor, 
shall be entitled under said ’laws to enter as a personal 
right, and not assignable, by legal subdivisions of the 
public lands of the United States subject to home¬ 
stead entry, so much additional land as added to the 
quantity previously so entered by him shall not ex¬ 
ceed one hundred and sixty acres: Provided, That 
in no case shall patent issue for the land covered by 
such additional entry until the person making such 
additional entry shall have actually and in conform¬ 
ity with the homestead laws resided upon and culti¬ 
vated the land so additionally entered and otherwise 
fully complied with such laws: Provided, also, 
That this section shall not be construed as affecting 
any rights as to location of soldiers’ certificates here¬ 
tofore issued under section two thousand three hund¬ 
red and six of the Revised Statutes.” 


EXTENDING THE TIME FOR MAKING FIN¬ 
AL PROOF AND PAYMENT. 

An Act extending the time for final proof and pay¬ 
ment on lands claimed under the public land laws 
of the United States. 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Repre¬ 
sentatives of the United States of America in Con¬ 
gress Assembled, That the time for making final 
proof and payment for all lands located under the 
homestead and desert land laws of the United States, 
proof and payment of which has not yet been made. 
be, and the same is hereby, extended for the period 
of one year from the time proof and payment would 
•become due under existing laws. 

Sec. 2. That the time of making final payments 
on entries under the preemption Act is hereby extend¬ 
ed for one year from the date when the same becomes 
due in all cases where preemption entrymen are un¬ 
able to make final payments from causes which they 
cannot control, evidence of such inability to be sub¬ 
ject to the regulations of the Secretary of the In¬ 
terior 

Approved, July 26, 1894. (28Stat., 123.) 









6 


PUBLIC LAND, 


MISCELLANY. 


WE WANT TO KNOW. 

Under this head the publishers will ask a number 
of questions each week, and invite answers to them 
by any of our readers who may be interested in the 
development of their districts. We wish it distinct¬ 
ly understood that the answers must be composed of 
facts, wholly freed from all fiction, and based upon 
the personal knowledge of the person answering 
the question. As an evidence of good faith always 
give full name and postoffice, but not for publication. 

The full name and present post-office address of 
a practical sawmill man who owns without incum¬ 
brance, a first-class twenty thousand sawmill outfit 
complete, with planer and flooring machine, who is 
looking for a good opening where thre is plenty of 
pine, fir and cedar timber and where but little capital 
will be needed. Give full particulars of outfit and its 
present location and) the kind of proposition which 
the owner would be willing to accept. 


The names and addresses of the owners of five 
gold mining claims in any camp in the United States 
who will contract to furnish at least ten tons of free- 
milling ore per week for custom milling for which 
they will pay $3.50 per ton for treatment. State the 
full name and address of each owner with full show¬ 
ing of his present interest in the claims, the name and 
size of each claim, the size of the lead, the character 
of the ore and its average assay value; the exact lo¬ 
cation of the claims; the name of the camp; the dis¬ 
tance from the nearest railroad station, and distance 
from wagon road. State whether there is any unap¬ 
propriated stream near at hand with sufficient flow 
at lowest water to furnish fifty or more horse-power; 
and whether there is a good supply of timber for min¬ 
ing and fuel purposes near a place that would be a 
convenient location for the custom mill. 


The full particulars concerning any mining camp 
that is sufficiently developed to warrant the estab¬ 
lishment of a smelter. State the amount of ore that 
can be reasonably guaranteed per day with the full 
names and post-office addresses of the owners of the 
mines ; the nearest-railroad station and the oppor¬ 
tunities for coal, as well as the character of the ore. 

One year’s subscription will be added to the credit 
of any subscriber who furnishes us absolutely cor¬ 
rect answers to any of the above questions. 


PERSONALS. 

The Receiver’s side of the Office at O’Neill, Ne¬ 
braska, is now being presided over by D. Clem Dea¬ 
rer. Mr. Deaver was appointed July 15, 1901. 


It is reported that a successor has been appointed 
to suoceeed George W. Hayes, Register of the Burns, 
Oregon, Land Office. 


It is reported that Senator Foster has recommend¬ 
ed the re-appointment of J. O. B. Scobey as Receiver 
of the Olympia, Washington, Land District, and that 
Hon. Fred M. Stocking^ who was a member of the 
State Legislature of 1899 will be given the place of 
Register Frank G. Deckebaeh who has all along been 
a staunch friend of and supporter of Ex-Senator 
John L. Wilson. Mr. Deckebaeh was appointed in 
June, 1897, on th e recommendation of Senator Wil¬ 
son and has held the position to the present time. 


Paris Gibson, United States Senator from Mon¬ 
tana and the recently elected colleague of Senator 
W. A. Clarke, has expressed himself as being deter¬ 
mined to stamp out the fraud which is so prevalent 
in public land matters to-day. He cites the case of 
one man near Great Falls who has 250 miles of fence 
enclosing thousands of acres of the finest farming 
land in the State, and insists that the Desert Act 
should be called a bill to promote perjury and that 
the Homestead law is the only act under which the 
agricultural public domain should pass to private 
ownership, and this law should be restored to its 
original shape, in which five years actual residence 
was required before title could be secured from the 
Government. 


Bids were opened last week at the office of Survey¬ 
or General Kingsbury for the survey of the Quina.lt 
Indian Reservation in the State of Washington. The 
contracts call for the completion' of the surveys by 
November 1st of next year, but it is supposed that 
it will be many months after that before the Reserva¬ 
tion will be formally opened to appropriation. 


A Hebrew colony secured 1,000,000 acres in 
the State of Sonoro, Mexico, and are going to estab¬ 
lish themselves upon it at once. 


The wheat crop of France is reported to be nearly 
one hundred million bushels short. 


















PUBLIC LAND. 


7 


ANSWERS TO SUBSCRIBERS. 

Under this head complete answers will be given 
to subscribers’ questions concerning the public" land 
of the United States. Name and address of each 
subscriber must be given with letter asking the 
question. 

L. T. R., California : I made homestead entry of 
120 acres of land in California July 26, 1894;’ when 
must I-make proof and can I take up enough land to 
fill out my 160 acres ? 

Ans.—Your proof must be completed before July 
26, 1902. In other words you are allowed eight 
years from the date O'f your entry in which to com¬ 
plete your proof. Yes, you will be allowed to make 
another homestead entry for forty acres more after 
you complete proof on the 120, but you will be requir¬ 
ed to reside upon, cultivate and improve the forty as 
though it was your original entry. See Sec. 6, Act 
of March 2, 4889, Land Laws and Decisions , page 5. 


L. T. McR., Washington: I made a homestead en¬ 
try in 1 §94, and have been informed that I have 
eight years within which to complete my proof; oth ¬ 
ers insist that if I do not submit proof within seven 
years that I will lose my land. Will you kindly 
inform me of my rights in the matter ? 

Ans.—On the incomplete statement which you 
make, either party may have been right for the reason 
that all homestead entries which were existing at 
the time of the passage of the Act of July 26, 1894, 
are allowed eight years for their completion and all 
those since that time are allowed but seven. The 
original homestead law Act of May 20, 1862, re¬ 
quires that in order to earn title to the land, proof 
must be submitted within two years from the expira¬ 
tion of five years from date of entry, but the Act of 
July 26, 1894, provided that all entries existing at 
that time upon which proof had not been made should 
be extended one year for the purpose of making 
proof. It will be seen, therefore, that Sec. 2 of the 
Act of May 20, 1862, was not amended or repealed, 
but that owing to the panic of ’93-4 Congress gave 
the settlers relief in the form of one year’s extension 
of time for proof and payment on their lands. (See 
Sec. 2, Act of May 20, 1862;" and Act of July 26, 
1894, under Land Laws and Decisions, page 5.) 

L. R., North Dakota : I made homestead entry of 
160 acres of what was originally Sioux land in 
North Dakota, which required the payment of $2.50 
per acre in addition to the regular land office fees 


and commissions. My eight years for making final 
proof had nearly expired when the “free homestead” 
bill was before Congress. I was informed about that 
time that the settlers had been allowed two years 
extension of time in which to submit proof, so being 
a poor man, I did not apply to make my final proof 
in time to complete it within the eight years. The 
proof was completed, however, and final certificate 
issued by the Local Officers, but I have just received 
word from the Commissioner of the General Land 
Office that unless I account for my failure to complete 
the proof within the eight years my entry will be can¬ 
celled and I will therefore lose my land. What must 
I do? 

Ans.—You should prepare and forward to the 
Register of the Land Office before \#hom your proof 
was taken an affidavit fully setting out all the facts 
which caused you to delay making proof within the 
Statutory period and apply to have your proof re¬ 
ferred to the Board of Equitable Adjudication, where 
it will probably receive favorable consideration. 


H. K., Washington : I have discovered a valuable 
vein of coal in the State of Washington on unsur¬ 
veyed land. How can I get title to it ? 

Ans.—You will nolt be allowed to purchase this 
land until the township plats have been filed. When 
this is done you can file your “Declaratory State¬ 
ment” and within twelve months thereafter you must 
complete your proof by paying ten dollars per acre 
for the land if it is more than fifteen miles from a 
completed railroad, or twenty dollars per acre if it 
is fifteen miles or less from a completed railroad. 
In addition to this, proof of the existence and devel¬ 
opment of a valuable deposit of coal must be shown. 
In case of controversy over possession, the one who 
shows the largest amount of development will prob¬ 
ably be given the benefit of the doubt, in case there 
s'houd be room for such thing. 


R. P., Washington:—I enlisted in regular army 
in 1892 ; served three years and three months. Was 
out of service for six months; re-enlisted again in 
’96 and served three years, the last year being spent 
in the Spanish-American war and Insurrection in the 
Philippines, at or near Manila ; have just filed on 160 
acres of land as homestead. When or how soon can 
I make final proof ? 

Ans.—You can only receive credit on your term of 
residence to the extent of the time spent in the Phil¬ 
ippine service, the Department has held that service 
in the regular Army cannot be applied as residence. 














NOV 18 190! 


8 


PUBLIC LAND. 


Land Offices and Officers of the United States. 


E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior Department, Washington, D. C. 
Binger Hermann, Commissioner General Land Office, Washington, D. C 


Alabama— 

Huntsville. 

Montgomery. 

Alaska— 

Rampart. 

Sitka. 

St. Michael. 

Arizona— 

Prescott. 

Tucson. 

Arkansas— 

Camden. 

Dardanelle. 

Harrison. 

Little Rock. 

California— 

Eureka. 

Independence. 

Los Angeles. 

Marysville. 

Redding. 

Sacraemnto. 

San Francisco ... 

Stockton. 

Susanville. 

Visalia. 

Colorado— 

Akron. 

Del Norte. 

Denver. 

Durango. 

Gunnison. 

Glenwood Springs 

Hugo. 

Leadville. 

Lamar. 

Montrose. .. 

Pueblo. 

Sterling. 

Florida— 

Gainesville. 

Idaho— 

Blackfoot. 

Boise. 

Coeur d’Alene.... 

Hailey. 

Lewiston. 

Iowa— 

Des Moines. 

Kansas— 

Colby. 

Dodge City. 

Topeka. 

Wakeeny. 

Louisiana— 

Natchitoches. 

New Orleans. 

Michigan— 

Marquette. 

Minnesota— 

Crookston. 

Duluth. 

Marshall. 

St. Cloud. 

Mississippi— 

Jackson. 

Missouri— 

Boonville. 

Ironton. 

Springfield. 

Montana— 


REGISTER. 

John A. Steele. 

Robert Barker. 

t>. M. Nalien. 

John W. Dudley. 

Franklin Moses. 

Fredrick A. Tritle, Jr.. 
Milton R. Moore. 

Charles T. Duke. 

Joseph H. Battenfield.. 
John I. Worthington... 
Harry H. Myers. 

Henry A. Olesten. 

Stafford W. Austin... 
Angus J. Crookshank. 

Frank W. Johnson_ 

Frank M. Swasey. 

Thomas Fraser. 

Aaron B. Hunt. 

John D. Maxey. 

Thomas S. Roseberry. 
Geo. W. Stewart. 

Peter Campbell. 

James H. Baxter. 

Charles D. Ford. 

Fredrick C. Perkins... 

Melvin A. Deering. 

John F. Squire. 

Lon E. Foote. 

Wat T. Beall...... 

Willia mA. Merrill. 

James A. Layton. 

John R. Gordon. 

David C. Fleming. 

Walter G. Robinson... 

Lorenzo R. Thomas... 

James King. 

David H. Budlong- 

Neal J. Sharp. 

John B. West. 

Thornton S. Howard.. 

Kleber E. Wilcockson. 

Thomas A. Scates. 

George W. Fisher. 

Isaac T. Purcell. 

J. Ernest Breda. 

Walter L. Cohen. 

Thomas Scadden. 

Sylvester Peterson.... 
William E. Culkin.... 

Cyrus P. Shepard. 

Myron D. Taylor. 

James Hill. 

William H. Martin.... 

George Steel. 

Martin V. Gideon.. 


RECEIVER. 
Herschel V. Cashin. 
John C. Leftwich. 

Wm. R. Edwards. 
Albert J. Apperson. 
Albert E. Rose. 

John C. Martin. 

John H. Bauman. 

Edward A. Shicker. 
John G. Chitwood. 
Felix S. Baker. 

John E. Bush. 

James F. Thompson. 
Frank E. Densmore. 
Arthur W. Kinney. 
Henry Malloch. 

Lloyd I.. Carter. 
William A. Newcum 
Sargent S. Mortin. 
George A. McKenzie. 
Alfred H. Taylor. 
Othello Scribner. 

George W. Warner. 
Peter F. Barclay. 
Benjamin K Kimberly 
Daniel L. Sheets. 

Miss Martha C. Brown 
James W. Ross. 

John P. Dickinson. 
Fred Butler. 

C. Frost Liggett. 

John E. Pelton. 

John J. Lambert. 
Charles B. Timberlake 

Henry S. Chubb. 

George B. Rogers. 
Edward E. Garrett. 
Charles D. Warner. 
Wm. A. Hodgman. 
Charles H. Garby. 

Stephen J. Loughran. 

Cyrus Anderson. 

Lewis J. Pettijohn. 
Rudolph B. Welch. 
Frank W. King 

Charles J. Greene. 
Charles P. Johnston. 

John Jones. 

August F. George. 

Jay M. Smith. 
Christopher F. Case. 
Alva Eastman. 

George E. Matthews. 

Herman Schmidt. 

C. Sanford Russell. 
George A. Ramsey. 


Bozeman.. 

Helena. 

Kalispell. 

Lewistown. 

Miles City. 

Missoula. 

Nebraska— 

Alliance. 

Broken Bow. 

Lincoln. 

McCook. 

North Platte...... 

O’Neill. 

Sidney. 

Valentine. 

Nevada— 

Carson City. 

New Mexico— 

Clayton. 

Las Cruces. 

Roswell. 

Santa Fe. 

North Dakota— 

Bismarck. 

Devil’s Lake. 

Fargo. 

Grand Fonts. 

Minot. 

Oklahoma— 

Alva. 

*E1 Reno. 

Enid. 

Guthrie. 

Kingfisher. 

•Lawton. 

Mangum. 

Oklahoma. 

Perry. 

Woodward,. 

Oregon— 

Burns. 

La Grande. 

Lakeview. 

Oregon City. 

Roseburg. 

The Dalles. 

South Dakota— 

Aberdeen. 

Chamberlain. 

Huron. 

Mitchell. 

Pierre. 

Rapid City. 

Watertown. 

Utah- 

Salt Lake City... 

Washington— 
North Yakima.... 

Olympia. 

Seattle. 

Spokane. 

Vancouver. 

Walla Walla. 

Waterville. 

Wisconsin— 

Ashland. 

Eau Claire. 

Wyoming— 

Buffalo. 

Cheyenne. 

Evanston. 

Douglas. 

Lander. 

Sundance. 


Albert L. Love. 

George D. Greene. 

Frank H. Nash_ 

Edward Brassey... 

Samuel Gordon. 

Elmer E. Hershey. 


Fred M. Dorrington... 

James Whitehead. 

Joseph W. Johnson_ 

Francis M. Rathbun.. 

George E. French. 

Stephen J. Weekes.... 

Robley D. Harris. 

James C. Pettijohn_ 

Oliver H. Gallup.. 


Edward W. Fox. 
Emil Solignac.... 
Howard Leland.. 
Manuel R. Otero. 


Alex. C. McGillivray.. 

Ole Serumgard. 

Charles N. Valentine. 

Ernest H. Kent..!. 

Thomas E. Olsgard... 

Robert A. Cameron... 


James B. Cullison... 

John Boles. 

Emory D. Brownlee. 
tlenr> D. McNight. 

John A. Trotter. 

Seymour S. Price_ 

Alfred H. Boles. 

Frank D. Healy. 


Andrew J. Edsall. 
John Horsky. 

William C. Whipps. 
Louis W. Eldridge. 
James M. Rhoades. 
William O. Ranft. 

William R. Akers. 
Frank H. Young. 
Thomas P. Kennard. 
Joel A. Piper. 

Crank Bacon. 

D. Clem Denver. 

James L.McIntosh, Jr 
Albert L. Towle. 

David H. Hall. 

Albert W. Thompson. 
Henry D. Bowman. 
David L. Geyer. 
Edward F. Hobart. 

John Satterlund. 
Henry E. Baird. 
DeWitt C. Tufts. 
Christian L. Lindstrom 
Abner . Hanscom. 

William J. French. 


George W. Hayes... 
Edward W. Bartlett... 
Eldon M. Brattain.. 
Charles B. Moores.. 
Joseph T. Bridges.., 
Jay P. Lucas. 


John S. Vetter_... 

William V. Lucas_ 

Charles A. Blake_ 

George E. Foster_ 

Albert Wheelon. 

George P. Bennett... 
Lee Stover... 


Frank D. Hobbs. 


Walter J. Reed. 

Frank G. Deckebach. 
Edward P. Tremper.. 

William H. Ludden_ 

William R. Dunbar... 

John M. Hill. 

Matthew B. Malloy_ 

August Doenitz. 

Alfred Cypreansen.... 


Prince A. Gatchell_ 

William E. Chaplin... 

Charles Kingston. 

Albert D. Chamberlain. 

William T. Adams_ 

Alpha E. Hoyt. 

•^Officers that have just been established to 
from thelKiowa and Comanche reservations. 


David W. Eastman. 
Fredrick E. McKinley. 
Jacob V. Admire, 
fames 1). Maguire. 

John A. Oliphant. 
Anton H. Classen. 

Joel R. Scott. 

John W. Miller. 

Charles Newell. 
Samuel O. Swackhamer 
Harry Bailey. 

William Galloway. 
James H. Booth. 

Otis Patterson. 

Frank A. Brown. 
Charles L. Brockway. 
John Westdahl. 
Thomas C. Burns. 
Henry E. Cutting. 
William S. Warner. 
George W. Case. 

George A. Smith. 

Miles Cannon. 

John O’B. Scobey. 
Columbus T. Tyler. 
Samuel A. Wells. 

Lynn B. Clough. 
Thomas Mosgrove. 
Lucien E. Kellog. 

Duportal G. Sampson 

Alexander Meggett. 

Ephraim H. Smock. 
Edward A. Slack. 
Frank M. Foote. 
Merris C. Barrow. 

Mrs. Minnie Williams. 
Samuel A. Young, 
accomodate the business 


Club Offer. Z ? f". an ‘ 

For a limited time “PUBLIC LAND” will be sent to five 
different addresses when sent in by one person for five dollars. 

Each issue of “PUBLIC LAND” will contain more of value 
to the subscriber interested in public land matters than the full 
price of the year’s subscription. Some will receive a hundred 
times more. Get your friends to subscribe now. Send all re¬ 
mittances whenever possible by Post Office or Express Money 
Order, made payable to “PUBLIC LAND.” 

Office 124-25 Auditorium Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


400 HOMESTEAD CLAIMS IN ADAMS 
COUNTY, STATE OF WASHINGTON. 

We have a Blue Print Map showing the exact 
location of all the vacant land in that part of Adams 
county, state of Washington, that is within the Spo¬ 
kane Falls district, which is corrected up to date, 
that we will give to every club raiser who sends us 
m ten paid yearly subscribers at one dollar each. The 
regular price of the map is $2.50. 





















































































































































































































ADVERTISEMENTS. 


“PUBLIC 

LAND" 

has made several of its readers over 

$500 

By ^bringing opportunities to their 
notice which they would not have 
learned in any other way. There 
are many more of these- 

$500 

pieces in store for those who read 

“PUBLIC 

LAND” 

There will be more opportunities 
than you can possibly use, so just 
speak to four of your friends about 
subscribing and take advantage 
of our clubbing offer on page 8. 


ATTEND THE 

Puget Sound Business College 

for a practical, up-to-date business course. 
Bookkeeping, penmanship, stenography 
and typewriting. Send ton cents for sam¬ 
ple dozen cards and how you can earn 
®?me money during spare time. Address 
D. M. KNAUP, Principal, 902 Yakima ave., 
Tacoma. Wash. 


0. W. KENNEDY, 
Livery Stables, 


Gentle Driving Horses. Good Drivers to 
show you the land you want to see. 
Everything first class. 


ODESSA. 


WASHINGTON. 


DOUGLAS HOTEL, 
William Newlove, Prop., 

AMERICAN PLAN. 

»1.00 and $1.60 Per Day. 
Prompt, Neat, Clean Service. 


WILSON CREEK, 


WASHINGTON. 


WILSON CHEEK LIVERY STABLE 
B. J. Armstrong, Prop. 


GOOD HORSES, GOOD RIGS, GOOD 
DRIVERS, FIRST CLASS 
SERVICE. 


WILSON CREEK. 


WASHINGTON. 


CLAIR HUNT, 

Civil Engineer- 
D. S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor. 

B0SSBURG, - - WASHINGTON. 


INLAND PRINTING COMPANY, 

610-612 Sprague Ave. 

Print Anything. Try us with your 
next order. 

It will save you money. 


M. L. SCHERMERHORN, 
United States Commissioner 


There’s lots of good Vacant Agricultural Land 
tributary to 

LIND, . - - WASHINGTON 


W&NTW0RTH CLOTHING GO. 

Reliable Mens’ and 
Roys’ Outfitters. 

709-11 Riverside Ave. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 


J. W. MeCUNE, 

Farm and City Property For Sals 
or Exchange. 

MONEY TO LOAN. 

7-8 Sherwood Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


JOHN MCDOWELL, 

united States Commissioner and 
Justice of the Peace. 


Gold Butte, Mont. 


EC S. Swenson, Clyde C. Hewion, 

United States Commissioner. Notary Public’ 

SWENSON & HENION, 

Timber and Agricultural Lands. Homestead 
and timber locations. Agents townsite of New¬ 
port. 

Publishers of NEWPORT MINER, Ji.soiperyear. 
NEWPORT, WASHINGTON. 


PIANOS 

Being the only dealer in 
Spokane who buys direct 
from the manufacturer in 
carload lots, and for cash 
only, I am in a position 
to save you money if you 
want a piano.- 

AUGUST MEYER 

9\9 Riverside Ave. 


Mop ol adonis Mi Mil 

A fine Blue Print Map of that part of 
Adams County, which is in the 
Spokane Falls, Washington Land 
District, comprising thirty-two town¬ 
ships and showing all the vacnat land 
in each township and corrected up 
to date will be sent by mail on re¬ 
ceipt of price—$2.50. Address 

“PUBLIC LAND” 

124-125 Auditorium Bldg. 

Spokane, Washington. 

































Walton & Goodsell, Land Attorneys 


Leave of absence from your Homestead. Applications to 
amend your Homstead and making of all papers pertaining to 
Public Lands. Contests,, protests and other bearings before 
any U. S. Land Office. The Commissioner of the General 
Land Office and the Interior Department. Mining Applica¬ 
tions. Military Bounty Land Warrants. Forest Reserve, 
Soldier’s Additional Homestead, and all other Land Scrips 
bought and sold. We can get your tangles straightened with¬ 
out your coming to the office 


Office Rooms 124-25 Auditorium BIoclc, Phone Main 369 


W asHirijgton 





-8--8—8-»-8-»-8—8—8-»-8-»-8-«-8-»-8—8—8"-8 --8-«-8—8--8-*-8—8—8—8—8—8-* 8-^8-*-8-»-8-«-8^8-»-a->8-8-«-8-*-8-*8- 

This will introduce the Northwestern Busi- X 
1 |JM L@Jl 1 L ness College to the readers of Public Land. The u 
purpose of this advertisement is to induce the ? 
I public to investigate the merits of the institution, 7 
1 for on MERIT we build. f 


Its students hold United States records for 
proficiency in Civil Service and Bookkeeping. 

FIVE COURSES OF STUDY. 

Shorthand and Typewriting, Civil Service, Busi¬ 
ness, Normal, and Telegraphy. 

For detailed information call at the office or 
send for catalogue. 


SPOKANE, WASH. 






















DEVOTED TOaTHOSE 
INTERESTED 1 IW 
THE PVBUIC LAUDS 

THE VniTED STATE5 


0 PUBLISHED' 

^ WEEKLY. 


$ 1.50 PER YEAR ^ 
in ADVANCE. " 


Vol. I. No. t4. Spokane, Wash., Nov. 19, 1901. Single Copies, 10 Cents 


CONTENTS. 


Editorial— 


Current Topics— 

The Grazing Land Proposition . 2 

An Interesting Meeting. 2 

The Secretary of the Interior.. . 2 

Kodiak, Alaska. 2 

Alaska. 2 

Minerals and Timber— 

Fairhaven, Wash. 3 

Valley, Wash. 3 

North Yamhills. 3 

Darrington, Wash. 3 

Congressman J. W. Fordney ... 3 

Gilliam County, Oregon. 3 

A. M. Stearns. 3 

Rich Cinnabar Deposit. 3 

One Hundred and Eight. 3 

Lots of Marble. 3 


New Opportunities— 

A New Irrigation District. 4 

Another Big Enterprise. 4 


Fort Hall Indian Reservation... 4 
82,000 Acres in Spokane County 4 
New Townships in Oregon. 4 


Land Laws and Decisions— 

Oklahoma Land-Homestead 
Contest. 5 

Miscellany— 

We Want to Know. 6 

Answers to Subscribers. 6 

Oklahoma Land Homestead 

Contest—Continued. 7 

Land Offices and Officers of the 
United States (corrected).... 8 






















































ADVERTISEME1N 


JOSEPH HUDSON SHORT, 

Attorney at Law 
and 

United States Commissioner, 


VICKSBURG, 


MISSISSIPPI. 


ROLLIN J. EEEVES, 


United States Commissioner, 


WILBUR, 


WASHINGTON. 


SIDNEY MOOR HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

In and for District of Washington. 


HOQUIAM, 


WASHINGTON. 


A. E. SWANSON, 
United States Commissioner, 


Notary Public, Loans' 
and Collections—Conveyancer 


WILSON CREEK, 


WASHINGTON. 


CUMMING BROS. & POWELL, 
Choice Timber and Homestead Loca¬ 
tions on Government Land. 

TIMBER CRUISED AND ESTIMATES GIVEN 

Fruit, grazing and ranch lands and pine and 
cedar timber for sale. 


80114 Riverside Ave. 


SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


LAND SCRIP 


For Surveyed or Unsurveyed 

Government Land, lowest prices, 
and quick delivery. We also 
have some choice saw mill loca¬ 
tions, and timber lands in white 
pine belt of Northern Idaho. 

New Northwestern Lumber Co., 

62-63 Jameson Block. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


T. D. HASTIE, 

Attorney at Law, 

U. S. Court Commissioner. 


Homestead Filings and Final Proofs. 
OROFINO, IDAHO. 


OEIN H. WOOES, 
Surveyor and U. S. Commissioner. 

Land Filings and Final Proofs. 
Ditches Surveyed and Recorded. 


BASIN, 


WYOMING. 


JNO. JAS. GEAVES, 


Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, 
Conveyancer, Eeal Estate, 


MEYERS FALLS, WASHINGTON. 


FRED’K J. HOAGLAND, 


Attorney at Law, 


ODESSA, 


WASHINGTON. 


C. H. HOLDEN, 


Attorney at Law. 


Choice timber lands In large or small 
tracts. Timber land cruised and estimates 
given. Government lands located. Fruit 
lands. Ranch land. Grazing land for sale. 
Climate unsurpassed; no cold, no heat, 
lands, ranch land, grazing land for sale, 
no cyclones. Correspondence solicited. 


FLORENCE, OREGON. 


J. W. MARSHALL, 
Attorney at Law. 


Practice in all the Courts. 


SOT Auditorium Blk., SPOKANE, WASH. 


HOMES FOE THE HOMESEEKERS 

LANDS FOR THE LANDLESS. 

We have a large list of the choicest 
farming lands in the Big Bend and 
throughout the Inland Empire. Improved 
farms $16 to $20 per acre. This is the sec¬ 
tion that produces 30,000,000 bushels of 
wheat per annum. Fine fruit; no failures; 
ideal climate. Money placed for non-resi¬ 
dents on first mortgages on first class 
land. Trantum & Schoonover, Odessa,Wn. 


J. B. ZIEGLER, 

Notary Public, Eeal Estate and Fire 
Insurance Agent. 

IMPROVED FARM LANDS, RAW 
LANDS AND TOWN PROPER¬ 
TIES FOR SALE. 


Prices and Terms will be Furnished 
Promptly. 


Office on First Avenue. 


ODESSA, 


WASHINGTON. 





Quickly secured. OUR FES DUE WHEN PATENT 
OBTAINED. Send model, sketch or photo, with 
description for free report as to patentability. 48-PAGE 
HAND-BOOK FREE. Contains references and full 
| information. WRITS POE COPY OF OUR SPECIAL 
OFFER. It is the most liberal proposition ever made by 
a patent attorney, and EVERY INVENTOR SHOULD 
READ IT before applying for patent. Address: 


ICO. 


PATENT LAWYERS, 

| HDroitBidg., WASHINGTON, D. C. 


Free Homesteads. 


There are over 100 good quarter sections with 
in short distance of the Great Northern Railroad 
that are subject to homostead entry, the same 
kind of land that produced 40 bushels of wheat 
to the acre this year. We have an accurate 
knowledge of these vacant tracts and will locate 
desirable parties on them at very reasonable 
rates. Callon 


H. E. STONE, 

With O. W. Stone Undertaking Co. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON 




Sec our Clubbing Offer 
on Eighth Page. 






















































PUBLIC LAND. 


i 


m mow m/c£/? /j r#f//0P£ of r#£/mrm 



Offices 124-125 Auditorium Bldg., Spokane, Wash. 


ADVERTISING RATES ON APPLICATION. 
Entered at Spokane, Wash., as Second Class Mail Matter. 
Copyrighted 1901 by Walton «& Goodsell. 

Vol. l. Spokane, Wash , Nov. 19,1901. No. 14. 


The wealthy 'and handsome young’ misses, Ari¬ 
zona, Oklahoma and New Mexico, are just reaching 
•for the knocker on Uncle Sam’s mansion for admis¬ 
sion to statehood, and their request should be 
granted. 

There is one clear-cut solution of the grazing- 
land proposition, and that is to permit the purchase 
of 160 acres of it by each citizen of the United States 
at one dollar 'and twenty-five cents per acre, under 
such rules and regulations as the Secretary of the In¬ 
terior may prescribe. 


President Roosevelt is making a'substantial rep¬ 
utation for himself as a statesman—a man who is 
able to see beyond the veil of party _ politics. The 
friends of irrigation believe that he*will render them 
'valuable assistance in securing the passage of a la^w 
which will not only recognie 'the necessity, but will 
afford Federal relief to the western States. 


Congress will convene a fortnight hence, and 
those interested in the passage of the bills opening 
the different reservations, the grazing land bill, 
amendment of the Isolated Tract Law and that re¬ 
lating to Military Bounty land warrants should lose 
no time in perfecting a line of campaign for each 
measure that will be effective in bringing the re¬ 
sults desired. A bill extending the ‘Tree-homestead 
law to the settlers on the north half of the Colville re¬ 
servation was favorably reported upon by the com¬ 
mittee at the last session of Congress, but was crowd¬ 
ed out by the press of busines always incident to the 


close of the session. The need of the States west of 
the Missippi River are so nearly akin that there 
should be no 'difficulty in securing the passage of all 
the measures which are of urgent necessity to these 
States. 

The great proposition of irrigation could in fact 
be made a common meeting ground for the delega¬ 
tions of every State in the Union, for the reason 
that there is not a single State or Territory in this 
Nation which would not be immensely benefited by 
the passage of some law that would enable them to 
place their agricultural lands under irrigation. 

The opening of Indian Reservations gives the 
homeless citizen an opportunity of contributing his 
share toward the prosperity of the Nation, by en¬ 
abling him to unite his energies with nature’s re¬ 
sources. 

The great rushes that are made when one of 
these reservations is opened, is proof sufficient of 
the necessity of providing homes for those who do 
not have them. It is true that there are millions of 
acres of vacant government land in the United 
States, and that a very large quantity of it is excellent 
for agricultural purposes, but the people generally 
do not know of it. Practically the only information 
that g e ts to them concerning opportunities for homes 
is when the daily newspapers herald over the land 
■the opening proclamation of some Indian reserve. 
This suggests the necessity for a colonization bu¬ 
reau, which will be able to furnish the homeless citi¬ 
zen accurate data concerning the present opportuni¬ 
ties which are open to him in any public land district 
of the United States. 

The Western delegations have a powerful fac¬ 
tor in their favor this year in the person of the Presi¬ 
dent, whose experience in the west and whose inter¬ 
course with its people have clearly demonstrated to 
him the necessity for certain recognition which they 
have never heretofore received. The Western people 
are, therefore, relying on him to assist them with his 
influence, and are confident that thy will receive it. 

But the Congressional delegations must have 
the backing and assistance of their constiuen- 
cies, and every citizen who has a regard for the wel¬ 
fare of his State should let his Congressman and Sen¬ 
ator know, that he is personally interested in the 
passage of these different laws. 


15,562,796 ACRES were disposed of by the 
Land Department of the Government during the fis¬ 
cal year which has just closed. This exceeds the busi¬ 
ness of the preceding year over 15 per cent. 



































2 


PUBLIC LAND. 


CURRENT TOPICS. 


THE GRAZING LAND PROPOSITION is 
one that will probably come in for its full share of 
attention 'at the next session of Congress. It is al¬ 
most universally admitted that something should be 
done, at once, so that title can pass to the individual 
for these lands which are unfit for agriculture and 
only fit for grazing purposes. A strong movement 
is on foot and is being backed by the syndicate herd 
owners of the west to permit leasing of the grazing 
land for a term of years. Opposed to this generally 
is the small herd owner and the citizen who has a 
jealous care for the welfare of his own particular 
locality. 

The leasing of this land by the Federal Govern¬ 
ment would, of course, mean the bottling up of the 
land for perhaps several years, thereby preventing 
the settlement and advancement of many localities 
in the grazing district. The feeling over this meas¬ 
ure has reached that tension where a little indiscre¬ 
tion would probably precipitate a bitter fight. The 
boards of trade, stock associations and kindred or¬ 
ganizations are now having well attended meetings, 
and are drafting resolutions without number, for and 
against the leasing of grazing lands by the Govern¬ 
ment. 


AN INTERESTING MEETING was held in 
Portland, Oregon, the other day. The parties pres¬ 
ent were United States Senators Mitchell and Simon 
and a delegation representing one hundred and fifteen 
settlers on public land in Sherman County, of that 
State. Many of the claims had passed to patent, but 
they were all within the limits, of the grant to The 
Dalles Military Wagon Road Company. Suit for 
title and possession was brought and successfully 
•fought by the Eastern Oregon Land Company, who 
carried the case to the Supreme Court. The pur¬ 
pose of the meeting, therefore, was to devise ways 
and means for the relief of the settlers on these lands, 
who had converted a wilderness into- an im¬ 
mense wheat field, and who had established their 
homes there, and many of them had their entire 
earthly possessions invested in the improvements on 
the land. The land was originally thought to be 
within the limits of the Northern Pacific land grant, 
but was declared open for settlement in 1890. Since 
then these settlers have filed upon it, and a large num¬ 
ber of them already have patents from the Govern¬ 
ment. The land company is to be asked the privil¬ 
ege of purchase, and the Oregon delegation will ask 


Congress to make an appropriation sufficient to re¬ 
numerate the land company. 

There are 20,000 acres involved in this mix-up, 
and the estimated average value of the land is about 
fifteen dollars per acre. 


THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR 
recently decided the famous land case of J. L. Calvert 
against the homestead entry of James R. Wood. Mr. 
Wood, whom it will be re m embered drew number one 
in the Lawton, Oklahoma, drawing in July, died a 
few days ago of typhoid fever. 

This case was settled in the most unique manner, 
the contest affidavit was filed in the Local Office 
August 6, and forwarded from there to the'Com¬ 
missioner and by him on August 27, to the Secretary 
of the Interior, and on August 30, Acting Secretary 
Ryan rendered decision thereon. The land involved 
in this case is valued at $50,000. The full text of 
this decision is printed in this issue. 


KODIAK, ALASKA. 

The following interesting letter from the Or¬ 
phanage News-Letter will give an idea of the agri¬ 
cultural possibilities of Alaska: Our Orphanage 
gardens, owing to scarcity of help, did not receive 
sufficient attention, but the results are not to be de¬ 
spised. We have about 1,500 pounds of potatoes, 
half as many turnips and rutabagas, and a few car¬ 
rots, parsnips, cabbage, cauliflower, etc. 

The size of some of these will, we believe, as¬ 
tonish out readers. For instance, four rutabagas 
weighed eleven pounds; three turnips, six pounds; 
one cauliflower, three pounds; three cabbage, twelve 
and one-half pounds; and . twelve potatoes, nine 
pounds. 

A small patch of barley yielded at the rate of 
forty bushels to the acre. Wheat and oats made good 
growth, some stalks being six feet high, but they 
were planted .too late to mature. 

In addition to all these, an apple and a crab tree, 
and several hardy shrubs, have made a fair start. 
Fall rye has been sown to determine if it will sur¬ 
vive the winter. 


ALASKA has 10,000 square miles of tillable 
land. Twenty-seven men from the United States 
Geological survey who have been operating- in the 
vicinity of the Arctic Circle recently returned to 
Washington, and are now engaged in making-their 
report to their chiefs of divisions. 











PUBLIC LAND. 


3 


MINERALS AND TIMBER. 


FAIRHAVEN, WASHINGTON, oil well has 
struck oil and has a real flow. ' Drilling is. still con¬ 
tinued, in the hope that a gusher may be developed. 

VALLEY, WASHINGTON, Coal, Marble 
and Slate companies are pushing development on 
their properties, and are receiving nothing but en¬ 
couraging results. The coal vein now has a width 
of nearly five feet. 


NORTH YAMHILL’S two hundred foot tun¬ 
nel on their coal lead brings promise of good results, 
as the quality 'and quantity of the deposit improves 
with each foot. The Southern Pacific Railroad is 
going to run a switch into the property from Gas¬ 
ton. 


# DARRINGTON, OREGON, now boasts of a 
large deposit of asbestos on Seogolson Creek, near 
that place. The discovery was recently made, is easi¬ 
ly mined and a short haul to the railroad. There is 
about four feet of almost pure asbestos and of fine 
fibre. 


CONGRESSMAN J. W. FORDNEY. of 
Michigan, purchased $13,000 worth of timber from 
Herman Winters last week, this including the pur¬ 
chases from other parties to about 4,200 acres of 
some of the best timber land in Clark County, Wash¬ 
ington. 

THE NORTHERN PACIFIC Railroad com¬ 
pany has recently exchanged several thousand acres 
of its land within the Mount Rainier Forest Reserve 
with the Government for white pine lands in the 
State of Idaho. The last location was for about 
10,000 acres in Idaho County, near Collins. 


GILLIAM COUNTY, OREGON, is coming 
to the front with an oil excitement and the report of a 
discovery of a large ledge of anthracite coal fifteen 
feet in thickness and of fine quality. The oil is in 
the vicinity of Fossil and the coal is near Lost Lake, 
and the ledge crops out in full view for half a mile. 

A. M. STEARNS, of Duluth, Minnesota, was 
a heavy operator in Oregon timber last week, he hav¬ 
ing purchased a large tract of timber land on a es 
■Creek from the Francisco estate, and is on the hunt 
for more timber ip the same locality. He repoi 


that many more Minnesota timbermen are on their 
way here for the purpose of purchasing timber land. 

RICH CINNABAR DEPOSITS are being de¬ 
veloped in the Meadows district, Oregon, which 
promises to rival the famous “quick silver” mines of 
California. Besides cinnabar, valuable deposits of 
gold, copper, coal, asbestos, and mica have recently 
been uncovered in the vicinity of Meadows. There 
is much virgin soil in this district, and if the present 
prospects are an indication of what the future will 
bring, many fortunes are in those hills waiting for 
the men who have the good judgment to recognize 
an opportunity when it is shown them. 

ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHT town¬ 
ships of land in the Burns, Oregon, 
land district, have been withdrawn from en¬ 
try for a period of one year by the Secretary of 
the Interior Department on the strength of a numer¬ 
ously signed petition presented by parties who were 
interested in prospecting for oil in that vicinity. This 
land is near Vale, Oregon, where there is much ex¬ 
citement at the present time oyer the favorable, indi¬ 
cations for producing wells. However, before this 
order was received some parties who were in a posi¬ 
tion to obtain inside information hurried to the State 
Land Board and purchased several school sections 
before the reserve was created. Action has been 
commenced for the purpose of setting the sale aside. 
The State Land Board has concluded to sell no more 
hand in the oil belt. 

LOTS OF MARBLE. 

The marble industry of Stevens County, Wash- 
ton, seems to be growing at a surprising rate, and 
this countv promises to be one of the greatest 
marble producing districts in the world. Hardly a 
week passes but what we hear of some new discoverv 
or the organization of some new corporation, formed 
for 'the development of the discoveries already made. 

There seems to be no limit to the quantity or va¬ 
riety. This is practically a new branch of mining 
in this district, and the mining men and capitalists 
have not had time to realize the opportunities that 
are open for them in this new line. There are but 
few claims that have as vet been developed to anv 
great extent, but a number of them have already 
been developed sufficiently to determine that they 
contain large deposits of the choicest stone and are 
only waiting for the capital with which to put in ma¬ 
chinery for operating them. 


















4 


PUBLIC LAND. 


NEW OPPORTUNITIES. 


A NEW IRRIGATION DISTRICT. 

A vote was taken last week by the citizens living 
in the Pioneer irrigating district on the question as 
to whether the district should be bonded for $200.- 
000 for the purpose of perfecting a complete system 
of irrigation from the Boise River. The vote was al¬ 
most unanimous in favor of bonding- the district for 
the amount. The land is in Ada County, Idaho, and 
practically surrounds the town of Caldwell. 


ANOTHER BIG ENTERPRISE. 

A movement is on foot for the reclamation of 
100,000 acres of the semi-arid land of Harney Coun¬ 
ty, Oregon. The Harney Valley Irrigation Com¬ 
pany has been formed for the purpose, and has ex¬ 
pended several thousand dollars in making prelim ¬ 
inary surveys. About half of the land in the Har¬ 
ney Valley is vacant government land, and the im¬ 
provement company has made application to the 
State Land Board to have all the land in that vicinity 
set aside as an irrigating district, under the Carey ir¬ 
rigation Act, which allows 'the State to furnish 
water for irrigation purposes on government land 
and then sell actual settlers the land for the cost of 
placing- it under irrigation. This movement is on- 
posed bv the Pacific Land Company, who have the 
use of thousands of acres of Government land for 
grazing privileges by reason of 'the having- title to 
about an equal quantity of land in that vicinity. The 
water for use on these lands will be obtained bv 
the construction of large reservoirs in the heads of 
Silver and Silvies Creeks. 


FORT HALL INDIAN RESERVATION. 

The influential men of Pocatello, which is in the 
center of Fort Hall Reservation, are making- use of 
everv means at their command to secure the ooening 
of this reserve this fall. The surveyors are working 
every day in the week, and are progressing very rap¬ 
idly with their notes. A movement is now on foot to 
cut the amount of land.allowed each settler frdm one 
hundred and sixty to eighty acres. The Pocatello 
people want the opening to' be made the same as was 
done in the Kiowa-Comanche Reserves, and to have 
parties draw for chances so as to avoid the old time 
rush, hut Commissioner Hermann of the General 
Land Office is quoted as having said that the old 
time “sooner” system in the State of Washington, 
as well as on the Fort Hall Reserve, would orobablv 
be adopted in the Quinalt Reservation, Many peo¬ 


ple have already been attracted to Pocatello and are 
now waiting for the opening. There are approxi¬ 
mately 400,000 acres of this land to' be thrown open, 
and it is expected that about* twenty days more will 
be required to classify it. 


82,000 ACRES IN SPOKANE COUNTY. 
WASHINGTON. 

Surrounding Spokane, the Capital City of the 
Inland Empire, there are in Spokane County ap¬ 
proximately 82,000 acres of vacant land subject to 
entry under the homestead and timber and stone 
laws. There are a great many claims in this coun¬ 
ty, out of which one-fourth to three-fourths of the 
land is good for agricultural purposes, the other 
part is probably rough and broken, and would only 
be fit for the timber. The county has more or less 
pine, fir and tamarack, scattered all over it, and there 
are many excellent claims left in the Northern part 
of the country, tributary to the Great Northern^ and 
the Spokane Falls Northern Railroads, which will 
cruise nearly 1,000,000 feet of merchantable timber 
'to the quarter section. . Some of these timber claims 
will make the finest kind of timothy land when 
cleared c>f the timber. The northern part of the 
county is unusually well watered; there are a num- 
oer of claims left that border on some of these lakes 
and streams, and the opportunities for the culture of 
fish, and such things are very good. Spokane will 
always be an excellent market for everything in this 
line, to say nothing" of the rich mining* country on 
the north, in Stevens and Ferry counties, and British 
Columbia, as well as the Bonanza mines of the Coeur 
d’Alenes, a few miles to the east, in the State of 
Idaho. 


NEW TOWNSIPS IN OREGON. 

On December 2, 1901, there will be filed in the 
United States Land Office at Lakeview, Oregon, the 
following townships: 

Township 21 south, range 15 east, Williamette 
Meridian. 

Township 21 south, range 16 east, Williamette 
Meridian. 

Township 22 south, range 15 east, Williamette 
Meridian. 

Township 22 south, range 16 east, Williamette 
Meridian. 

Applications for land within the above town¬ 
ships will be accepted on and after that date. The 
settlers on the land will be allowed three months in 
which to apply for the land. 













PUBLIC LAND 


5 


LAND LAWS AND DECISIONS. 


OKLAHOMA LANDS-HOMESTEAD CONTEST. 

(Calvert vs. Woods.) 

The selection and entry of land adjacent to a townsite, by 
a duly qualified and registered homestead applicant, is not 
in violation of the letter or spirit of the law under which 
the lands in the territory ceded by the Comanche, Kiowa and 
Apache Indians were opened to settlement and entry. 

The unauthorized and illegal occupancy of public lands 
subject to homestead entry only constitutes no bar to such 
entry thereof by one who asserts a right by virtue of com¬ 
pliance with the law and regulations relating to the entry 
of such lands. 

In making homestead entry of lands in the territory ce¬ 
ded by the Comanche, Kiowa and Apache Indians, it is not 
necessary that the lands shall be taken in square form; but 
the general provision of the Act of March 3 , 1891 , amending 
[Section 2289 of. the Revised Statutes, which directs that 
land to be taken as a homestead shall be located in a body 
in conformity to the legal subdivisions of the public lands, 
will control as to the form of entries of these lands. 

Acting Secretary Ryan to the Commissioner of the General 

Land Office, August 30 , 1901 . 

(S. V. P.) 

The Department is in receipt of your letter of August 27 , 
1901 , enclosing the contest affidavit of J. L. Calvert against 
James R. Wood’s homestead entry, made August 6, 1901 , for 
the NJ 4 of the SWj 4 and the of the SE *4 of Sec. 31 , 
T. 2 N., R. 11 , W,. Lawton, Oklahoma, land district. 

This affidavit filed August 8th, and corroborated by C. H. 
Drake, contains the following allegations: 

That the said James R. Wood made said H. E. in violation 
of the letter and spirit of the homestead law, by selecting 
and entering said lant. adjacent to the entire south line of 
the Town of Lawton and only two.blocks from the ground 
upon which the U. S. Land Office and the court house isjo- 
cated. That said entry embraced land a mile long and only 
one-fourth wide, thereby rendering the same more val¬ 
uable for townsite purposes and less valuable for agricul¬ 
tural purposes. That said entryman made said entry in the 
manner above described at a time when said land was al¬ 
ready settled and occupied by thousands of people engaged 
in actual business and trade. That said entryman could 
have selected his land in square form had the same been 
desired for agricultural purposes. That said land embraced 
by said H. E. has continued to be occupied for trade and 
business purposes by thousands of people and a great num¬ 
ber of houses and tents are at this time being erected on said 
land for business and speculative purposes, with the full 
knowledge of said entryman. That said entry was not made 
in compliance with law, but for speculative purposes as 
above shown. 

The land involved here is a part of the territory ceded by 
the Comanche, Kiowa and Apache Indians by agreement 
ratified by Act of Congress June 6, 1900 (31 Stat., 672 , 676 ), 
which, after directing that allotments shall be made to the 
Indians as in said agreement provided, contains provisions 
as to the disposal of said lands, which, so far as they affect 
this ease are as follows: 

That the lands acquired by this agreement shall be op¬ 
ened to settlement by the proclamation of the Piesident 
within six months after allotments are made and be dis¬ 


posed of under the general provisions of the homestead and 
town-site laws of the United States. 

Before the lands had been opened to settlement under 
that law, Congress, by the Act of March 3 , 1901 (31 Stat., 
1093 ), give further direction as to these lands and the man¬ 
ner in which they should be opened to settlement and entry. 
It was thereby directed that before such opening the Sec¬ 
retary of the Interior should subdivide the same into such 
number of counties as would for the time being best sub¬ 
serve the public interests, should designate the place for the 
county seat of each county, and “set aside and reserve at 
such county seat, for disposition as herein provided, three 
hundred and twenty acres of land.” The lands so set apart 
were, in advance of the opening, to be surveyed, subdivided 
and platted into lots, blocks, streets and alleys, and the lots 
were to be sold at public auction to the highest bidder at 
sales to be had at the opening and subsequent thereto. 
Said Act further provides as follows: 

The lands to be opened to settlement and entry under the 
acts of Congress ratifying said agreements, respectively, 
shall be so opened by proclamation by the President and to 
avoid the contests and conflicting claims which have here¬ 
tofore resulted from opening similar public lands to settle¬ 
ment and entry, the President’s proclamation shall pre¬ 
scribe the manner in which these lands may be settled upon 
and occupied, and entered by persons entitled thereto under 
the Acts ratifying said agreements, respectively; and no 
person shall be permitted to settle upon, occupy or enter 
any of the said lands except as prescribed in such proclama¬ 
tion until after the expiration of sixty days from the time 
when the same are opened to settlement and entry. 

The President issued his proclamation July 4 , 1901 , de¬ 
claring that the ceded lands, with certain exceptions spec¬ 
ifically mentioned, “will on the 6th day of August, 1901 , at 
9 o’clock a. m., in the manner herein prescribed and not 
otherwise, be opened to entry and [settlement and to dispo¬ 
sition under the general provisions of the homestead and 
townsite laws of the United iStates.” 

The proclamation provided that persons desiring to make 
homestead entry might be registered in the manner therein 
set forth and that during the first sixty days after the open¬ 
ing therin provided for no one but registered applicants 
would be permitted to make homestead [Settlement upon any 
of said lands. It then prescribed the manner in which dur¬ 
ing the first sixty days following the opening registered 
applicants would be permitted to make proclamation for 
townsite settlement and entry as follows: 

Any person or persons desiring to found, or to suggest es¬ 
tablishing a town-site upon any of said ceded lands at any 
point not in the near vicinity of either of the county seats 
thereinbefore selected and designated as aforesaid, may, at 
any time before the opening herein, provided for, file in the. 
proper land office a written application to that effect, de¬ 
scribing by legal subdivisions the lands intended to be af¬ 
fected, and stating fully and under oath the necessity of 
propriety of founding or establishing a town at that place. 
The local officers will forthwith transmit said petition to the 
commissioner, if the [Secretary of the Interior approve 
thereof, issue an order withdrawing the lands described in 
such petition, or any portion thereof, from homestead entry 
and settlement and directing that the same be held for the 
time being for town-site settlement, entry, and disposition 
only. In such event, the lands so withheld from homestead 

( Continued on Page 7 .) 
















6 


PUBLIC LAND. 


MISCELLANY. 


WE WANT TO KNOW. 

Under this head the publishers will ask a-number 
of questions each week, and invite answers to them 
by any of our readers who may be interested in the 
development of their districts. We wish it distinct¬ 
ly understood that the answers must be composed of 
facts, wholly freed from all fiction, and based upon 
the personal knowledge of the person answering 
the question. As an evidence of good faith always 
give full name and postoffice, but not for publication. 

The full particulars of any other recent discov¬ 
ery of asbestos than that reported at Darrington. 


The names and addresses of five persons in any 
locality who have made $600 or over from their or¬ 
chards this season. State the kind and varieties of 
fruit sold, approximate number of trees, their pro¬ 
duct, the price per pound and the total amount re¬ 
ceived. 


The name 'and address of any person who has 
sold $300 or more worth of frogs from their own 
ponds during the last year. . State also the approxi¬ 
mate size of the pond or ponds, whether the frogs 
were naturally there, or whether they were obtained 
elsewhere and raised there; the number sold; the price 
received, and the market to which they were taken.. 


The full name and postoffice address of any per¬ 
son who has sold over $150 worth of walnut or other 
hard wood timber from his own land, 
west of - the Rocky Mountains, which 
was planted in a locality where such timber 
did not grow without such culture. State the num¬ 
ber and size of trees and all other data necessary 
to determine the profit of the business. 

One year’s subscription will be added to the credit 
of any subscriber who furnishes us absolutely cor¬ 
rect answers to any of the above questions. 


The Pine Needle factory at Grant’s Pass, Oregon, 
is reported to be taxed to its utmost capacity to sup¬ 
ply the demand made upon it for the product of pine 
needles. ThePine Needle Mnfg. Co. is the name of 
the company operating this plant and the articles 
which they manufacture are a medical soap, a cough 
cure, cure for rheumatism and pine needle bon bons. 


ANSWERS TO SUBSCRIBERS. 

Under this head complete answers will be given 
to subscribers’ questions concerning the public land 
of the United States. Name and address of each 
subscriber must be given with letter asking the 
question. 

L. C. V. P., Washington: I hold a county office 
and want to make a homestead entry and if possible 
take advantage of the law (if there is any such) that 
will excuse me from actual residence on this land; 
will you inform me how I must proceed in the mat¬ 
ter? 

Ans.—We are unable to find where the Depart¬ 
ment, in const rueing ihe homestead law on the ques¬ 
tion of residence, has ever excused a county official 
from meeting its requirements the same as an ordi¬ 
nary individual, and must therefore conclude that 
you will be required to establish your residence on 
the land “to the exclusion of one elsewhere” within 
six months from the date of your homestead entry 
and continuously reside thereon for the full period of 
five years, including the first six months of construc¬ 
tive residence, in order to earn title to the land, in 
addition to the proper cultivation and improvement 
of the land. 


A. R. S., Washington: How many acres can be 
reserved for a reservoir site under the Act of January 
13, 1897? 

Ans.—Not more than 160 acres in any one section 
or in a group of sections cornering or adjoining. 
“No reservation will be made for a resorvoir contain¬ 
ing less than 250,000 gallons, and for a resorvoir 
of less than 500,000 gallons capacity not more than 
forty acres can be reserved. For a reservoir of 500,- 
000 gallons and less than 1,000,000 gallons capacity, 
not more than 80 acres can be reserved. For a reser¬ 
voir of 1,000,000 gallons and less than 1,500,000 
gallons capacity not more than 120 acres can be re¬ 
served. For.a resorvoir of more than 1,500,000 
gallons capacity 160 acres may be reserved.” 


THE HAYWARD TIMBER COMPANY of 
Davenport, Iowa, Gilky, Anson Company, of Mer.- 
rell, Wis., Stewart Lumber Company of Wausaw, 
Wsi., and the Murrell Lumber Company of Murrell, 
Wis., recently purchased 81,000 acres of yellow 
pine, spruce and cedar timber in south central Ar¬ 
kansas, tributary to the Iron Mountain Southern, 
and the St. Louis and Southwestern railways. The 
price paid is reported to have been $1,125,000. 
















PUBLIC LAND 


7 


(Continued from Page 5 .) 

entry, and settlement, entry and disposition under the gen¬ 
eral town-site laws except in he manner herein prescribed 
until after the expiration of sixty days from the time of said 
opening. 

It contained a declaration and warning as follows: 

All persons are especially admonished that under the said 
Act of Congress, approved March 3, 1901, it is provided that 
no person shall he permitted to settle upon, occupy or enter 
any of said ceded lands except in the manner prescribed in 
this proclamation until after the 'expiration of sixty days 
from the time when the same are opened to settlement and 
entry. After the expiration of the said period of sixty days, 
but not before, any of said lands remaining undisposed of 
may be settled upon, occupied, and entered under the gen¬ 
eral provisions of the homestead and townsite laws of the 
United States in like manner as if the manner of effecting 
such settlement, occupancy and entry had not been prescri¬ 
bed herein in obedience to law. 

Only those who were permitted by the terms of the procla¬ 
mation to go upon these lands have any right to be there dur¬ 
ing the period of sixty days after the date fixed for the open¬ 
ing. The rights of those who have gone there in conformity 
with the terms of the proclamation should and will be rec¬ 
ognized and protected, and they should not and will not be 
made to suffer because of the illegal and wrongfull acts of 
those who have gone there in violation of these terms. The 
law limits the amount of land to be set apart for a county 
seat to three hundred and twenty acres, and this quantity 
was thus set apart at Lawton. All land lying adjacent to 
the tract thus set apart and not otherwise appropriated was 
on the sixth day of August subject to homesead entry by 
qualified persons duly regisered and entitled to make entry 
on that day of lands in the Lawton land district. There is 
no allegation that Wood was not thus qualified, registered 
and entitled. The selection and entry of land adjacent to 
the town of Lawton was not in violation of the letter or 
spirit of the law, and the first allegation of Calvert’s affi¬ 
davit does not present a good ground of contest. 

The land embraced in Wood’s entry was not subject to ap¬ 
propriation for town-site purposes and hence the allegation 
that it was for any reason more valuable for such purposes 
than for agricultural purposes is not pertinent and can not 
be accepted as a reason for the cancellation of the entry un¬ 
der consideration. 

The other 'allegations at the time of the entry was made 
the land was occupied for business and trade, that he could 
have selected it in square form had he desired it for agricul¬ 
tural purposes, and that it is ©till occupied for trade and 
business, a great number of houses being erected theron 
with the full knowlege of the entryman, are not such as to 
warrant the ordering of a hearing. It is not alleged that 
this occupancy was by the procurement or even with the 
consent of the entryman. As pointed out hereinbefore, the 
land in question was not at the time of Wood’s entry sub¬ 
ject to appropriation for townsite purposes, nor was any 
person authorized to enter upon and occupy it for the pur¬ 
pose of trade and business. Any person who went upon and 
occupied it for such purposes was there without any color 
of right and in direct violation of the proclamation prescri¬ 
bing the manner of opening said lands and in open defiance 
of the President’s warning. It will hardly be seriously as¬ 
serted that persons in such a position have any rights in the 
premises. A contention that such unauthorized entry there¬ 


of by any one who asserts a right by virtue of compliance 
with the law and regulations can not be sustained. To allow 
these lands to be appropriated for the purpose of a town- 
site would be to defeat the purpose of the selection of tracts 
for county seat purposes. The lots in these tracts designa¬ 
ted as sites for county seats were to be sold for cash, the 
proceeds to be used to defray the expenses of the respective 
county governments until such time as funds from taxation 
should become available, and for the erection of public build¬ 
ings and other public purposes. To allow adjacent lands to 
be occupied for townsite purposes would be to lessen the ben¬ 
efits to be obtained by the public from the sale of lots in the 
county seat town and thwart in a degree, if not in whole, 
the benificent purposes of the legislation providing for those 
towns. 

The last allegation of the contest affidavit it that this en¬ 
try was made for speculative purposes “as above shown.” 
As pointed out, none of the allegations referred to in the 
phrase “as above shown” constitutes a good ground of con¬ 
test. Neither do these allegations taken together present 
such a ground. Under some circumstances the fact that one 
selects for a homestead entry land adjacent to an establish¬ 
ed town and occupied by others might afford substantial rea¬ 
son for the conclusion that the selection was thus made for 
speculative purposes. But under the circumstances of this 
case, where Congress has provided for the disposition of the 
lands by way of homestead entry and not otherwise, and 
where the persons occupying the land are there in direct vio¬ 
lation of law and regulations, no such effect should be given 
that fact. 

It is not directly charged that this entry is illegal because 
of its form, but that charge may be implied from the allega¬ 
tions, and it is thought proper to refer to that point. The 
Act of May 2, 1890 (26 Stat., 81), relating to the disposal of 
lands in Oklahoma, contains a provision as follows (p. 91): 
All persons who shall settle on land in said territory under 
the provision’s of the homestead laws of the United States 
and of this Act, shall be required to select the same in square 
form or nearly as may be. 

.Section 5 of the Act of March 3, 1891 (26 Stat., 1095), 
amends Section 2289 Revised Statutes, so that as amended 
that section directs that lands to be taken as a homestead 
shall “be located in a body in conformity to the legal sub¬ 
division of the public lands.” This is the general provision 
of the homestead law as to the form of an entry. The Act 
of June 6, 1900, Supra, provides that these lands ©hall “be 
disposed of under the general provisions of the homestead 
and town-site laws of the United States.” The general pro¬ 
vision of the Act of 1891 rather than the special provision 
of that of 1890 will control as to the form of entries of these 
lands. The lands embraced in the entry under consideration 
ar9 “in a body in conformity to the legal 'subdivisions of the 
public lands,” and it is not subject to successful attack be¬ 
cause of the form of the land included therm. 

For the reason herein given it is deemed that the allega¬ 
tions of the contest affidavit are insufficient to demand the 
cancellation of Wood’s entry, and the recommendation of 
your office that said affidavit be rejected is approved, and it 
iis so ordered. 


The millions of dollars that have been invested in 
the development of oil properties all over the United 
Siates are being appreciably 'felt by the real estate 
dealers. 

















NOV 25 1901 


8 


PUBLIC LAND. 


Land Offices and Officers of the United States. 


E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior Department, Washington, D. C. 
Binger Hermann, Commissioner General Land Office, Washington, D. C• 


Alabama— 

Huntsville. 

Montgomery. 

Alaska— 

Rampart. 

Sitka. 

St. Michael. 

Arizona— 

Prescott. 

Tucson. 

Arkansas— 

Camden. 

Dardanelle. 

Harrison. 

Little Rock. 

California— 

Eureka. 

Independence. 

Los Angeles. 

Marysville. 

Redding. 

Sacraemnto. 

San Francisco ... 

Stockton. 

Susanville. 

Visalia. 

Colorado— 

Akron. 

Del Norte. 

Denver. 

Durango. 

Gunnison. 

Glenwood Springs 

Hugo. 

Leadville. 

Larnar. 

Montrose. 

Pueblo. 

Sterling. 

Florida— 

Gainesville. 

Idaho— 

Blackfoot. 

Boise. 

Coeur d’Alene- 

Hailey. 

Lewiston... 

Iowa— 

Des Moines. 

Kansas— 

Colby. 

Dodge City. 

Topeka. 

Wakeeny. 

Louisiana— 

Natchitoches. 

New Orleans. 

Michigan— 

Marquette. 

Minnesota— 

Crookston. 

Duluth. 

Marshall. 

St. Cloud. 

Mississippi— 

Jackson. 

Missouri— 

Boonville. 

Ironton. 

Springfield. 

Montana— 


REGISTER. 

John A. Steele. 

Robert Barker. 

P. M. Nullen. 

John W. Dudley. 

Franklin Moses. 

Fredrick A. Tritle, Jr.. 
Milton R. Moore. 

Charles T. Duke. 

Joseph H. Battenfield.. 
John I. Worthington... 
Harry H. Myers. 

Henry A. Olesten. 

Stafford W. Austin... 
Angus J. Crookshank. 

Frank W. Johnson_ 

Frank M. Swasey. 

Thomas Fraser. 

Aaron B. Hunt. 

John D. Maxey. 

Thomas S. Roseberry. 
Geo. W. Stewart. 

Peter Campbell. 

James H. Baxter. 

Charles D. Ford.. 

Fredrick C. Perkins... 

Melvin A. Deering. 

John F. Squire. 

Lon E. Foote. 

Wat T. Beall. 

W'illia mA. Merrill. 

James A. Layton. 

John R. Gordon. 

David C. Fleming. 

Walter G. Robinson... 

Lorenzo R. Thomas... 

James King. 

David H. Budlong— 

Neal J. Sharp. 

John B. West. 

Thornton S. Howard.. 

Kleber E. Wilcockson. 

Thomas A. Scates. 

George W. Fisher. 

Isaac T. Purcell. 

J. Ernest Breda. 

Walter L. Cohen. 

Thomas Scadden. 

Sylvester Peterson.... 
William E. Culkin — 

Cyrus P. Shepard. 

Myron D. Taylor. 

James Hill. 

William H. Martin — 

George Steel. 

Martin V. Gideon. 


I RECEIVER. 
Herschel V. Cashin. 
John C. Leftwich. 

Wm. R. Edwards. 
Albert J. Apperson. 
Albert E. Rose. 

John C. Martin. 

John H. Bauman. 

Edward A. Shicker. 
John G. Chitwood. 
Felix S. Baker. 

John E. Bush. 

James F. Thompson. 
Frank E. Densmore. 
Arthur W. Kinney. 
Henry Malloch. 

Lloyd L. Carter. 
William A. Newcum 
Sargent S. Mortin. 
George A. McKenzie. 
Alfred H. Taylor. 
Othello Scribner. 

George W. Warner. 
Peter F. Barclay, 
j Benjamin K Kimberly 
Daniel L. Sheets. 

Miss Martha C. Brown 
James W. Ross. 

John P. Dickinson. 
Fred Butler. 

C. Frost Liggett. 

John E. Pelton. 

John J. Lambert. 
Charles B. Timberlake 

Henry S. Chubb. 

George B. Rogers. 
Edward E. Garrett. 
Charles D. Warner. 
Wm. A. Hodgman. 
Charles H. Garby. 

Stephen J. Loughran. 

Cyrus Anderson. 

Lewis J. Pettijohn. 
Rudolph B. Welch. 
Frank W. King 

Charles J. Greene. 
Charles P. Johnston. 

John Jones. 

August F. George. 

Jay M. Smith. 
Christopher F. Case. 
Alva Eastman. 

George E. Matthews. 

Herman Schmidt. 

C. Sanford Russell. 
George A. Ramsey. 


Bozeman. 

Helena. 

Kalispell. 

Lewistown.... 

Miles City_ 

Missoula. 

Nebraska— 

Alliance. 

Broken Bow.. 

Lincoln. 

McCook. 

North Platte. 

O’Neill. 

Sidney. 


Albert L. Love. 

George D. Greene. 

Frank H. Nash_ 

Edward Brassey... 

Samuel Gordon. 

Elmer E. Hershey. 


Fred M. Dorrington... 

James Whitehead. 

Joseph W. Johnson_ 

Francis M. Rathbun.. 

George E. French. 

Stephen J. Weekes_ 

Robley D. Harris 


Valentine. James C. Pettijohn. 

Nevada— 


Carson City../. 

New Mexico— 

Clayton. 

Las Cruces. 

Roswell. 

Santa Fe. 

North Dakota— 

Bismarck. 

Devil’s Lake. 

Fargo. 

Grand Forns__ 

Minot. 

Oklahoma— 

Alva. 

*E1 Reno. 

Enid. 

Guthrie. 

Kingfisher. 

*Lawton.,. 

Mangum. 

Oklahoma. 

Perry. 

Woodward. 

Oregon— 

Burns. 

La Grande. 

Lakeview. 

Oregon City. 

Roseburg. 

The Dalles. 

South Dakota— 

Aberdeen. 

Chamberlain. 

Huron. 

Mitchell. 

Pierre. 

Rapid City. 

Watertown. 

Utah- 

Salt Lake City... 

Washington— 
North Yakima.... 

Olympia. 

Seattle... 

Spokane. 

Vancouver. 

Walla Walla. 

Waterville. 

Wisconsin— 

Ashland. 

Eau Claire...._ 

Wyoming— 

Buffalo. 

Cheyenne. 

Evanston.. 

Douglas. 

Lander. 


Oliver H. Gallup. 

Edward W. Fox. 
Emil Solignac.... 
Howard Leland.. 
Manuel R. Otero. 


Alex. C. McGillivray.. 

Ole Serumgard. 

Charles N. Valentine. 

Ernest H. Kent. 

Thomas E. Olsgard... 

Robert A. Cameron... 


James B. Cullison_ 

John Boies. 

Emory D. Brownlee.. 
Henry D. McNight. 

John A. Trotter. 

Seymour S. Price. 

Alfred H. Boles. 

Frank D. Healy. 


George W. Hayes. 

Edward W. Bartlett.. 

Eldon M. Brattain_ 

Charles B. Moores_ 

Joseph T, Bridges. 

Jay P. Lucas. 


Andrew J. Edsall. 
John Horsky. 

William C. Whipps. 
Louis W. Eldridge. 
James M. Rhoades. 
William O. Ranft. 

William R. Akers. 
Frank H. Young. 
Thomas P. Kennard. 
Joel A. Piper. 

Frank Bacon. 

1). Clem Den ver. 

James L.McIntosh, Jr 
Albert L. Towle. 

David H. Hall. 

Albert W. Thompson. 
Henry D. Bowman. 
David L. Geyer. 
Edward F. Hobart. 

John Satterlund. 
Henry E. Baird. 
DeWitt C. Tufts. 
Christian L. Lindstrom 
Abner . Hanscom. 

William J. French. 


John S. Vetter. 

William V. Lucas.. 
Charles A. Blake... 
George E. Foster... 

Albert Wheelon. 

George P. Bennett.. 
Lee Stover. 


Frank D. Hobbs. 


Walter J. Reed. 

Frank G. Deckebach. 
Edward P. Tremper.. 

W'illiam H. Ludden_ 

William R. Dunbar... 

John M. Hill. 

Matthew B. Malloy_ 

August Doenitz. 

Alfred Cypreansen.... 


Prince A. Gatchell_ 

William E. Chaplin... 

Charles Kingston. 

Albert D. Chamberlain. 

. William T. Adams_ 

Sundance. 'Alpha E. Hoyt. 

^Officers that, have just been established to accomodate the business 
from the Kiown and Comanche reservations. 


David W. Eastman. 
Fredrick E. McKinley. 
Jacob V. Admire. 

Tames D. Maguire. 

John A. Oliphant. 
Anton H. Classen. 

Joel R. Scott. 

John W. Miller. 

Charles Newell. 
Samuel O. Swackhamer 
Harry Bailey. 

W r illiam Galloway. 
James H. Booth. 

Otis Patterson. 

Frank A. Brown. 
Charles L. Brockway. 
John Westdahl. 
Thomas C. Burns. 
Henry E. Cutting. 
William S. Warner. 
George W. Case. 

George A. Smith. 

Miles Cannon. 

John O’B. Scobey. 
Columbus T. Tyler. 
Samuel A. Wells. 

Lynn B. Clough. 
Thomas Mosgrove. 
Lucien E. Kellog. 

Duportal G. Sampson 
Alexandar Meggett. 


Ephraim H. Smock. 
Edward A. Slack. 
Frank M. Foote. 
Merris C. Barrow. 
Mrs. Minnie Williams. 
Samuel A. Young. 


fTitth, Af f am Hew Opportunities for Vou and 

tiller* vour Triends. * « « * « 

For a limited time “PUBLIC LAND” w r ill be sent to five 
different addresses when sent in by one person for five dollars. 

Each issue of “PUBLIC LAND” will contain more of value 
to the subscriber interested in public laud matters than the full 
price of the year’s subscription. Some will receive a hundred 
times more. Get your friends to subscribe now. Send all re¬ 
mittances whenever possible by Post Office or Express Money 
Order, made payable to “PUBLIC LAND.” 

Office 124-25 Auditorium Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


400 HOMESTEAD CLAIMS IN ADAMS 
COUNTY, STATE OF WASHINGTON. 

We have a Blue Print Map showing the exact 
location of all the vacant land in that part of Aclanis 
county, state of Washington, that is within the Spo¬ 
kane Falls district, which is corrected up to date, 
that we will give to every club raiser who sends us 
m ten paid yearly subscribers at one dollar each. The 
regular price of the map is $2.50. 




































































































































































































































ADVERTISEMENTS. 


“PUBLIC 

LAND” 

has made several of its readers over 

$500 

Byvbringing opportunities to their 
notice which they would not have 
learned in any other way. There 
are many more of these- 

$500 

pieces in store for those who read 

“PUBLIC 

LAND” 

There will be more opportunities 
than you can possibly use, so just 
speak to four of your friends about 
subscribing and take advantage 
of our clubbing offer on page 8. 


ATTEND THE 

Puget Sound Business College 

for a practical, up-to-date business course. 
Bookkeeping, penmanship, stenography 
and typewriting. Send ten cents for sam¬ 
ple dozen cards and how you can earn 
some money during spare time. Address 
D. M. KNAUP, Principal, 902 Yakima ave., 
Tacoma, Wash. 


0. W. KENNEDY, 
Livery Stables, 


Gentle Driving Horses. Good Drivers to 
show you the land you want to see. 
Everything first class. 


ODESSA, 


WASHINGTON. 


DOUGLAS HOTEL, 
William Newlove, Prop., 

AMERICAN PLAN. 

$1.00 and $1.50 Per Day. 
Prompt, Neat, Clean Service. 


WILSON CREEK, 


WASHINGTON. 


WILSON CHEEK UVEEY STABLE 
B. J. Armstrong, Prop. 


GOOD HORSES, GOOD RIGS. GOOD 
DRIVERS, FIRST CLASS 
SERVICE. 


WILSON CREEK. 


WASHINGTON. 


CLAIR HUNT, 

Civil FCfi p ineer 
U. S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor. 

B0SSBURG, - - WASHINGTON. 


INLAND PRINTING COMPANY, 

610-612 Sprague Aye. 

Print Anything. Try us with your 
next order. 

It will save you money. 


M. L. SCHERMERH0RN, 
United States Commissioner 


There’s lots ef good Vacant Agricultural Land 
tributary to 


LIND, 


- WASHINGTON 


WENTWORTH CLOTHING GO. 

Reliable Mens’ and 
Boys’ Outfitters. 

709-11 Riverside Ave. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 


J. W. MeCDNE, 

Farm and City Property For Sale 
op Exchange. 

MONEY TO LOAN. 

7-8 Sherwood Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


JOHN MeBOWELL, 

united States Commissioner and 
Justice of the Peace. 


Gold Butte. Mont. 


H’ S. Swenson, Clyde C. Henion, 

United States Commissioner. Notary Public - 

SWENSON & HENION, 

Timber and Agricultural Lands. Homestead 
and timber locations. Agents townsite of New¬ 
port. 

Publishers of NEWPORT MINER, $ 1.50 peryear. 
NEWPORT, WASHINGTON. 



Being the only dealer in 
Spokane who buys direct 
from the manufacturer in 
carload lots, and for cash 
only, I am in a position 
to save you money if you 
want a piano.- 

AUGUST MEYER 

919 Riverside Ave. 


S 


ill 


A fine Blue Print Map of that part of 
Adams County, which is in the 
Spokane Falls, Washington Land 
District, comprising thirty-two town¬ 
ships and showing all the vacnat land 
in each township and corrected up 
to date will be sent by mail on re¬ 
ceipt of price—$ 2 . 50 . Address 

“PUBLIC LAND” 

124-125 Auditorium Bldg. 

Spokane. Washington. 



































alton & Goodsell, Land Attorneys 


9 This will introduce the Northwestern Busi- & 

7 |JPB i kg B |l|jjp£f| ^ff j k & ness College to the readers of Public Land. The & 

I x purpose of this advertisement is to induce the $ 

I public to investigate the merits of the institution, ? 
for on MERIT we build. | 

Its students hold United States records for * 

! proficiency in Civil Service and Bookkeeping. I 

FIVE COURSES OF STUDY. I 

j Shorthand and Typewriting, Civil Service, Busi- j[ 
| ness, Normal, and Telegraphy. ^ 

_ jj For detailed information call at the office or ? 

8 1 : 1 send for catalogue. 


| ™- SPOKANE, WASH. 

-a^~u~a~u-*-a~a*a~a~a~u~u~u-a~a~a~a~«~a~a~a^a~u~a~a~u-a~a~u~a~a-*-a~a-*-u- 




Leave of absence from your Homestead. Applications to 
amend your Homstead and making of all papers pertaining to 
Public Lands. Contests, protests and other bearings before 
any U. S. Land Office. The Commissioner of the General 
Land Office and the Interior Department. Mining Applica¬ 
tions. Military Bounty Land Warrants. Forest Reserve, 
Soldier’s Additional Homestead, and all other Land Scrips 
bought and sold. We can get your tangles straightened with¬ 
out your coming to the office 


Office Rooms 124-25 Auditorium Block, Phone Main 369 

- Spokane, "Waebiingto: 






















7/Otff.V7M££/5 ££££0P£ Of £££/mT/0£ 



PVBL1SHED 

WEEKLY 


DEVOTED TO THOSE 
IHTEFESTEO Ift —' 
THE PVBU1C U/\rtDS 

THE VniTED STATES 


$1.50 PER YEAR 
in ADVANCE. 




> 


Vol. i. No. 15. Spokane, Wash., Nov. 26, 1901. Single Copies, 10 Cents 



CONTENTS. 

Editorial— 

1,500,000 Acres Vacant in 


Stevens County, Washington. 4 

Current Topics— 


Forest Reserves. 2 

Land Laws and Decisions— 


Canadians in. Alaska. 5 

Minerals and Timber— 

Section 2293 United States Re 

Solomon Hirsch .. 3 

vises Statues. 5 

The Rush of Timber Men. 3 

Act of February 25, 1885. 5 

Yakima Indian Reservation ... . 3 


Railroad from Forest Grove to 


Bay City. 3 

Miscellany— 

Malheur County. 3 

Answers to Subscribers. 6 

Olympia Forest Reserve. 3 

Act of February 25, 1885—Con. 7 

Forest Reserves.—Con. 3 

Personals.... .. 7 


We Want to Know. 7 

New Opportunities— 

Land Offices and Officers of the 

Fort Hall Indian Reservation... 4 

United States (corrected).... 8 





















































ADVERTISEMENTS. 


JOSEPH HUDSON SHORT, 

Attorney at Law 
and 

United States Commissioner, 


VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI. 


T. D. HASTIE, 

Attorney at Law, 

U. S. Court Commissioner. 

Homestead Filings and Final Proofs. 
OROFINO, IDAHO. 


HOMES FOR THE HOMESEEKERS 

LANDS FOR THE LANDLESS. 

We have a large list of the choicest 
farming lands In the Big Bend and 
throughout the Inland Empire. Improved 
farms $15 to $20 per acre. This Is the »ec- 
tion that produces 30,000,000 bushels of 
wheat per annum. Fine fruit; no failures; 
Ideal climate. Money placed for non-real- 
dents on first mortgages on first class 
land. Trantum & Schoonover, Odessa, Wn. 


ROLLIN J. REEVES, 


0RIN H. WOODS, 


J. B. ZIEGLER, 


United States Commissioner, 


WILBUR, WASHINGTON. 


Surveyor and U. S. Commissioner. 


Land Filings and Final Proofs. 
Ditches Surveyed and Recorded. 


BASIN, WYOMING. 


Notary Public, Real Estate and Fire 
Insurance Age at. 


IMPROVED FARM LANDS, RAW 
LANDS AND TOWN PROPER¬ 
TIES FOR SALE. 


SIDNEY MOOR HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

In and for District of Washington. 


JNO. JAS. GRAVES, 


Prices and Terms will be Furnished 
Promptly. 


Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, 


Office on First Avenue. 


HOQUIAM, WASHINGTON. 

A. R. SWANSON, 

United States Commissioner, 


Notary Public, Loans 
and Collections—Conveyancer 


WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 


GUMMING BROS. & POWELL, 
Choiee Timber and Homestead Loca¬ 
tions on Government Land. 

TIMBER CRUISED AND ESTIMATES GIVEN 

Fruit, grazing and ranch lands and pine and 
cedar timber for sale. 

80114 Riverside Ave. SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


LAND SCRIP 

--FOR—-- 

Surveyed or Unsurveyed 

Government Laud, lowest prices, 
and qnick delivery. We also 
have some choice saw mill loca¬ 
tions, and timber lands in white 
pine belt of Northern Idaho. 

New Northwestern Lumber Co., 

62-63 Jameson Block. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


Conveyancer, Real Estate, 

MEYERS FALLS, WASHINGTON. 

FRED’E J. HOAGLAND, 


Attorney at Law, 


ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 

C. H. HOLDEN, 

Attorney at Law. 

Choice timber lands In large or small 
tracts. Timber land cruised and estimates 
given. Government lands located. Fruit 
lands. Ranch land. Grazing land for sale. 
Climate unsurpassed; no cold, no heat, 
lands, ranch land, grazing land for sale, 
no cyclones. Correspondence solicited. 

FLORENCE, OREGON. 

J. W. MARSHALL, 
Attorney at Law. 

Practice In all the Courts. 

SOT Auditorium Blk., SPOKANE, WASH 


ODESSA 


WASHINGTON. 



Quickly secured. OUR FEE DUE WHEN PATENT 
OBTAINED. Send model, sketch or photo, with 
description for free report as to patentability. 48-PAGE 
EAND-BOOH FREE. Contains references and fall 
information. WRITE FOR COPT OF OUR SPECIAL 
OFFER. It is the most liberal proposition ever made by 
a patent attorney, and EVERY INVENTOR SHOULD 
READ IT before applying for patent. Addres*: 

H.B.WILLSON&CO. 

PATENT LAWYERS, 

La Droit Bldg., WASHINGTON, D. C. 


Free Homesteads. 


There are over 100 good quarter sections with 
in short distance of the Great Northern Railroad 
that are subject to homastead entry, the same 
kind of land that produced 40 bushels of wheat 
to the acre this year. We have an accurate 
knowledge of these vacant tracts and will locate- 
desirable parties on them at very reasonable 
rates. Call on 


H. E. STONE, 

With O, W. Stone Undertaking Co. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON 


See our Clubbing Offer 
on Eighth Page. 



























































HE LIBRAS w I 
CONGRESS, | 

One Copy Receives, 

DEC 3 2 1901 

Copyright entry 

ICLASS XXc. N° | 

COPY ^ 


PUBLIC LAND. 


m//0/7£/7M£fi /J Tf/f/S0P£ Of £#£///!7/0/X 



Offices 124-125 Auditorium Bldg., Spokane, Wash. 

ADVERTISING I^ATES ON APPLICATION. 
Entered at Spokane, Wash., as Second Class Mail Matter. 

Copyrighted 1901 by Walton & Goodsell. 

Vol. 1 . Spokane, Wash , Nov. 26,1901. No. 15. 


Wil] those Registers and Receivers who have not 
voted on the grazing land purchase bill kindly send 
in their votes as early as possible? There are still 
many who have not yet expressed themselves on 
this questoin. 

We believe in people being prosperous when there 
are opportunities without number for men and wo¬ 
men who wish to place themselves beyond the reach 
of want. We are constantly collecting data for the 
benefit of our subscribers and shall continue to do so. 
Our facilities for this work are being extended every 
day and if the staunch friends of Public Land are 
not made independent it will not be for lack of vaua- 
ble information being brought to their notice. Public 
Land is urged forward by a purpose which is strong¬ 
er than the desire for gold, and is the means used by 
a small number of earnest people to advance the in¬ 
terests of the men and women of the United States 
who are not too lazy to help themselves up out of the 
rut of poverty. Public Land appreciates the efforts 
of its many friends and invites the co-operation of 
those who have a care for the welfare of the earnest, 
honset men and women of the United States who are 
striving to be useful to themselves and their Nation. 
There are many opportunities for self-improvement 
and growth, for 'those who wish to be identified with 
this movement and Public Land would be glad to 
have all those who have the inclination to join hands 
with it in its efforts to promote the permanent pros¬ 
perity of this Nation. 


i 


of the practice of permitting lieu land selections to 
be made for a different character of land than that 
relinquished within the forest reserve. He also 
recommends that hereafter in the creation of any 
Forest Reserve no lands shall be included therein 
except those which are unclaimed at the date of the 
proclamation creating such reserve. In this way 
there will be no basis for any lieu selections and in 
this way the corporations which own millions of 
acres of worthless lands will not be permitted to 
exchange them for rich agricultural or timber land 
on other parts of the northwest. 

As a general measure designed to prevent the 
wholesale exchanges (by these large corporations 
who own enormous tracts of practically worthless 
land, that would probably come within the many 
new reservations which have been applied for, and 
for which lieu selections would doubtless be made 
as soon as the relinquishments to the Government 
could be acknowledged) this would doubtless prove 
very effective. There is, however, a class of per¬ 
sons present in every one of these reservations who 
are entitled to consideration and these are the actual 
settlers. Every man that has the energy, courage 
and patriotism to go into a new .and undeveloped 
region and build up a home for himself and family 
should not only have every protection which a gen¬ 
erous Government can give, but, after he has main¬ 
tained it for a term of years, should be granted a 
liberal pension. The poineers in every part of the 
new west have done more for the permanent pros¬ 
perity of the nation than they will ever receive credit 
for, and the Government in closing up the avenues 
for fraudulent and unfair methods of dealing should 
not overlook the home builder. Every man who by 
his labor builds a home in the wilderness has a right 
to believe that his privations and sacrifices will bring 
him the necessities and comforts of civilization, and 
these should not be denied him by the artificial 
barrier of an official proclamation, however valuable 
it may be to the nation itself, without extending to 
him some adequate relief. If the land adjoining or 
surrounding his home is included within the limits 
of a forest reserve, he should be given the privilege 
of remaining or departing, and, in case he wished to 
remain, he should be paid at least on-half the actual 
cost to him of making the improvements, which 
were upon the land at the time the reserve was cre¬ 
ated, or, if he preferred takings land elsewhere, he 
should be given that privilege and" should be paid 
for the actual cost of making all improvements on 
the land relinquished. 


Commissioner Hermann urges the discontinuance 



































2 


PUBLIC LAND. 


CURRENT TOPICS. 


FOREST RESERVES. 

The following is taken from the annual report of 
Hon. Binger Hermann, Commissioner of the General 
Land Office, and deals with one of the most im¬ 
portant questions 'before the American people today: 

FOREST LIEU-LAND SELECTION. 

“As an inducement to such relinquishment lieu- 
land selections elsewhere on the public domain were 
allowed in cases of ownership, and the privilege of 
settlement on other tracts was allowed settlers whose 
claims were not perfected to lands settled upon within 
the reserve. It was not seen in conceding this privi¬ 
lege that in reservations there are large quantities 
of lands of no value to the owners, much having been 
granted to corporations in their original grants and 
in other cases where mill-owners may have denuded 
the land of its valuable timber, leaving but an infant 
growth of shrub and tree in place of the valuable 
commercial timber cut and removed years before. 
While such worthless or denuded lands may eventual¬ 
ly prove of great value in conserving the purposes 
of forest reservation and even at the present time 
contribute to some extent in protecting the water 
supply, so as to justify the inclusion of such lands 
within a reserve, yet it is submitted as a proper ques¬ 
tion of administration and of abstract justice as be¬ 
tween the Government and such class of land owners, 
whether lands worthless to such should be exchanged 
for the most valuable lands remaining of the public 
domain; whether one who has availed himself of the 
commercial or marketable value of one tract, such as 
timber, should again have the privilege with no ad¬ 
ditional cost to himself to acquire another body of 
timber land equal in area to that surrendered. 

“Viewing it as a question of value, it means prac¬ 
tically the timber on 320 acres of timber land for 
a price paid for 160 acres. Applications have been 
made for reserves wherein there are grants of lands 
aggregating nearly 1,000,000 acres in a single re¬ 
serve, a large portion of which could not be mar¬ 
keted in large or small quantities for 50 cents an 
acre, yet if permitted the right of exchage would 
readily realize fhe owner from $3 to $5 and even 
more in some cases per acre. This exchange privi¬ 
lege, commonly known as scrip, is often sold on the 
market through dealers at the prices mentioned per 
acre. It possesses a special value, since the law per¬ 
mits its location on the choicest lands yet subject to 
settlement without settlement and without price and 


regardless of quantity, or whether in compact form 
or in separate bodies far remote. Prior to October 1 
last this license extended. even to the unsurveyed do¬ 
main, where the homesteader himself was without 
authority to make entry for filing in the local office. 
Following the urgent representation and recom¬ 
mendations of the Department and of this office to 
Congress, this privilege was fortunately repealed to 
take effect October 1 last. If it shall be deemed 
necessary to induce all base holders in reserves to 
relinquish such holdings and that they may do so to 
offer them a consideration, let it be on the basis of an 
exchange for lands approximately of the value of 
those surrendered. This would be regarded as fair 
dealing among private individuals in ordinary trans¬ 
actions. Why should it not be equally applicable to 
Government exchange ? 

“Why should the Government be required to part 
title to millions of acres of the public domain valued 
in the market at $5 per acre and sold by the Govern¬ 
ment itself under the timber and stone act only in 
limited quantities, not exceeding 160 acres, at not 
less than $2.50 per acre, and then only upon certain 
proof and publication, and to accept in exchange 
lands held in private or corporate ownership in re¬ 
serves not worth anywhere or at any time 50 cents 
an acre ? Are we not paying an unnecessarily high 
price for our reserves ? Admitting, however, all that 
can be argued for the most liberal and broad-gauge 
forestry policy, yet is there not a more rational and 
just principle which can be made applicable and 
which by legislative enactment can become the rule 
by which values may be determined, either by land 
exchange or the payment of a fixed appraised price? 
Unless the remedy which shall be provided embraces 
within its scope the practicability and guarantee of 
a relinquishment of all the holdings within any re¬ 
serve, it should not be permitted to rest upon such 
voluntary offerings as self-interest may suggest. To 
accept relinquishment of a few holdings in a reserve 
is only to create a special monopoly for the owners 
of those which remain.- This applies more especially 
to the reserves which contain pasturage for live stock, 
and every reserve has more or less of pasture herbage. 
To confine the stock of the few! inside owners within 
their holdings, so as to prevent the use of the open 
reserve, would entail great expense upon the Gov¬ 
ernment. It follows, then, that to own land within 
a reserve is to have the use of such reserve. A case 
in point is the instance of a sheep firm in Arizona 

(Continued on Page J .) 







PUBLIC LAND. 


MINERALS AND TIMBER. 


Solomon Hirsch of Portland has the record for 
filing on 80 sections of oil land in Malheur county, 
Oregon. 


The rush of timber men to northwestern Oregon 
has caused our Uncle Samuel to cast his weather eye 
in that direction, and as a result a number of his 
shrewdest special agents are operating in that vi¬ 
cinity. 


The lands on the Yakima Indian Reservation in 
the State of Washingtofi which had already been 
allotted to the Indians will soon be classified for the 
purpose of leasing them to the white men. The In¬ 
terior Department has designated Engineer Rodman 
to make the classification. The character of the land 
will determine the length of the lease. 

Following closely on the big timber operations 
that have recently been made in Washington and 
Tillamook counties, Oregon, comes the report of an 
early construction of a railroad from Forest Grove 
to Bay City, on the Tillamook bay. There are still 
large quantities of fine timber on the headwaters of 
the Wilson river that are open to appropriation. 

Malheur county, Oregon, has unlocked another 
of its treasure chests. This time it is in the form of 
a large deposit of rock-salt. The quality is excellent 
and from the present developments promises to be 
sufficient to supply the entire northwest. The dis¬ 
covery was made by J. D. Mills and L. W. Burtch of 
Boker City, and is near Vale, on the Malheur river. 
Coal and asphaltum have also been discovered in that 
basin during the last few days. 

OLYMPIC FOREST RESERVE. 

The lands which were recently eliminated from 
the Olympic Forest Reserve were thrown open to 
settlement and entry last week. This land is in Che- 
halis, Mason, Clallam and Jefferson counties and 
it is estimated that there will be about 300 full 160- 
acre claims,, besides that which was settled upon 
prior to the creation of this reserve. The lands 
within this district have nearly all been surveyed and 
much has been done in the way of road building and 
other necessities so the settler going there now will 
not encounter the hardships usually met with in the 
settlement of new districts. 


3 


{Continuedfrom Page 2 .) 

who asked to graze 30,000 sheep within the San 
Francisco Mountain Forest Reserve. Upon attempt¬ 
ing to enforce the Department regulations, which 
require that only a fixed number of sheep shall graze 
in said reserve and requiring that applications be 
submitted upon which permits may be granted, the 
Department is met with the assertion of this firm 
as to their right to enter said reserve and to graze 
their sheep without a permit by right of private land 
ownership of odd-numbered sections within the ex- 
teroir reserve boundaries, and proof was submitted 
as to their ownership of 140,000 acres within said 
boundaries. Their lands are not inclosed and it is 
impossible wholly to protect the reserve proper frorp 
incursion of these flocks. A compromise'was deemed 
advisable by which these sheep owners, in addition 
to their aforesaid, private holdings, are allowed 
practically the exclusive use of 88,320 acres of the 
reser ve domain contiguous to their own holdings and 
they accept a permit to cover 18,000 sheep. Such 
a concession is shown to be unsatisfactory because it 
confers on certain individuals by sanctoin of the De¬ 
partment privileges withheld from those not so for¬ 
tunate as to own lands within the reserve boundaries. 
It is further unsatisfactory because even with this 
extended license there is no guaranty that the same 
flocks may not still encroach upon and use the re¬ 
serve grass which is apportioned to the many more 
unfortunate grazers who own no lands in the reserve. 

“It is the practice in some reserves for sheep and 
cattle owners to agree on an equitable pro rata dis¬ 
tribution of the reserve, based on the maximum num¬ 
ber of stock fixed by the Department, but this is not 
under an official recognition of the Department. • 
Care is taken in the language- of all permits not to 
recognize or authorize any such partition or distribu¬ 
tion of the reserves. Persons who apply are given 

permit /to pasture.head of.within 

the.forest reserve from .. .., 1901, 

to., 1902 provided/ etc., and ‘Provided, 

That this privilege is extended with no obligation or 
agreement to maintain and exclusive possession upon 
any part of said reserve to any one person or firm, nor 
as 'to adjustment of any conflict as to possession/ 
It is believed that all grazers should submit to the 
general rule regardless as to their ownership or non¬ 
ownership of lands in the reserve. The Department 
will see that no unjust discrimination shall be ex¬ 
ercised against them by any practices or regulations 
of other stock owners in the reserve.” 

















4 


PUBLIC LAND. 


NEW OPPORTUNITIES. 


FORT HALL INDIAN RESERVATION. 

In the nearly 400,000 acres of land which is soon 
to be thrown open to appropriation under the home- 
steam, town-site, timber and stone and mining laws 
of the United States there may be had all classes of 
land; prairie, timber, level and hilly, land that re¬ 
quires irrigation and that which will raise good crops 
without it. There are certain conditions which the 
settler will have to meet-that are not ordinarliy pres¬ 
ent in reservation openings. For instance, those 
Indians who have settled on any of the land to be 
thrown open, may, if they choose, change their loca¬ 
tions to that part of the reservation which is still re¬ 
served and which will not be opened for the settle¬ 
ment of the white man. In such cases the Indian’s 
improvements must be appraised and the settler who 
takes the land vacated by the Indian must pay in 
cash (to the agent for the Indian) the amount of the 
appraised value of such improvements, and such pur¬ 
chaser will be given thirty days preference right to 
enter the land. 

The classification of the lands on this reservation, 
which is now taking place, is to determine what 
lands will be susceptible of irrigation from the canal 
of the Idaho Canal Company. ' All such land must 
be paid for at the rate of $10 per acre. The second 
class will embrace those lands which are good for 
agricultural purposes, but will not come under the 
canal; these will cost $2.50 per acre. The third class 
includes the land which is only valuable for grazing 
purposes and is priced at $1.25 per acre. 

No person is allowed to enter more than 160 acres 
of this land and none of it can be sold for towns! te 
purposes for less than $10 per acre. All of the land 
within five miles of Pocatello must be sold at public 
auction and none of the land can be sold under the 
mineral land laws for less than $10 per acre. 

1,500,000 ACRES VACANT IN STEVENS 
COUNTY, WASHINGTON. 

The miner, quarryman, potter, lumberman 1 , farm¬ 
er, horticulturist, stockman, lime burners and brick- 
makers can find innumerable virgin opportunities in 
Stevens County, Washington, for operations in 
their particular lines and this means that all other 
branches of business that rely upon these for their 
basis can likewise find good openings in the near 
future. Gold, silver, lead, copper, iron, coal, oil for 
the miner. Great deposits of marble of the finest 


quality, a mountain of limestone and granite for the 
quarryman. Aluminum, fire and good qualities of 
crockery clay for the potter and bookmakers'. Thou¬ 
sands of acres of pine, fir, tamarack and cedar for 
the lumberman. Fine bodies of land ranging from 
the low bottom land of the Pend d’Oreille to high 
hilly land covered with timber, which is its chief 
value in many cases.' 

Varieties of fruits and vegetables are raised in dif¬ 
ferent parts of the county, and it would not be a dif¬ 
ficult matter for a man to select a tract of land in 
some part of the county which would be well adapted 
to either of the uses above-mentioned. The county 
is about 100 miles long, uorth and south, about 50 
miles wide and extends to the British line on the 
north. The Spokane Falls & Northern railroad runs 
through the entire length of the county and the Great 
Northern crosses the "southeastern corner at New¬ 
port. The Pend d’Oreille River runs north through 
it to British Columbia and is-navigable for about 
60 miles below Newport. Boats make daily trips 
from Newport to lone, carrying freight and passen¬ 
gers. Of the 1,500,000 acres shown to be vacant 
there are perhaps two-thirds of it unsurveyed. A 
large quantity has already been settled upon and 
settlements are being made every day upon the un¬ 
surveyed as well as surveyed lands. There are.still 
many fine homestead and timber claims to be had in 
different parts of the county. During the early part 
of the year the timber locators were operating very 
extensively and some of them induced many poor 
men to make timber locations under the belief that 
the locators had strong companies back of them who 
wopld furnish money to pay for the lands on the 
day of proof. This was only .for the purpose of 
getting location fees out of poor men who did; not 
have $400 with which to pay the Government for 
the land. Their claims to the land prevented others 
from making entry of it for several weeks, but their 
■rights have now expired, by reason of their failure 
to submit proof in support of their applications and 
the land can be entered under either the homestead or 
timber laws. 

The different opportunities described are rather 
well distributed, but it might be suggested that oper¬ 
ations for coal would probably result most favorably 
near Valley; silver near Chewelah; gold, marble and 
oil near Colville and Northport; aluminum, fire, 
brick and pottery clay and limestone near lone; hay 
lands near Usk, and timber and agricultural lands 
scattered all over the county. 








PUBLIC LAND 


LAND LAWS AND DECISIONS. 


CANADIAN’S IN ALASKA. 

“An act extending the homestead laws and pro¬ 
viding for right of way for railroads in the district 
of Alaska, and for other purposes. 

“Sec. 13. That native-born citizens of the Do¬ 
minion of Canada shall be accorded in said district of 
Alaska the same mining rights and privileges ac¬ 
corded to citizens of the United States in British ‘Co¬ 
lumbia and the Northwest Territory by the laws of 
the Dominion of Canada or the local laws, rules and 
regulations; but no greater rights shall be thus ac¬ 
corded than citizens of the United States, or persons 
who have declared their intention to become such, 
may enjoy in said district of Alaska; and the Secre¬ 
tary of the Interior shall from time to time promul¬ 
gate and enforce rules and regulations to carry this 
provision into effect. 

SECTION 2293 UNITED STATES REVISED 
* ' STATUTES. 

“Sec. 2293. In case of any person desirous of 
availing himself of the benefits off this chapter, but 
who, by reason of actual service in the military or 
naval service of the United States, is unable to do 
the personal preliminary acts at the district land of¬ 
fice which the preceding sections require; and whose 
family, or some member thereof, is residing on the 
land which he desires to enter, and upon which a 
bona fide improvement and settlement have been 
made, such persons may make the affidavit required 
bv law before the officer commanding in the branch 
of the service in which the party is engaged, which 
affidavit shall be as binding in law, and with like 
penalties, as if taken before the register or receiver, 
and upon such affidavit being filed with the registei 
by the wife or other representative of the. party, the 
same shall become effective from the date of such fil¬ 
ing, provided the application and affidavit are ac¬ 
companied by the fee and commissions as required 
by law.” 

ACT OF FEBRUARY 25, 1885. 

Be it Enacted bv the Senate and House of Reore- 
sentatives of 'the United 'States of America in Con¬ 
gress Assembled, That all inclosures of any oublic 
lands in any state or territory of the United States, 
heretofore or to be hereafter made, erected, or con¬ 
structed by any person, party, association, or cor¬ 
poration, to any of which land included within the 


5 


inclosure the person, party, association, or corpora¬ 
tion making or controlling the iticlosure had no claim 
or color of title made or acquired in good faith, or an 
asserted right thereto by or under claim, made in 
good faith with a view to entry thereof at the proper 
land office under the general laws of the United 
States at the time any such inclosure was or shall 
be made, are hereby declared to be unlawful, and 
the maintenance of erection, construction, or control 
of any such inclosure is hereby forbidden and pro¬ 
hibited; and the assertion of a right to the exclusive 
use and occupancy of any part of the United States, 
without claim, color of title, or asserted right as 
above specified as to inclosure, is likewise declared 
unlawful, and hereby prohibited. 

Sec. 2. That it shall be the duty of the district 
attorney of the United States for the proper district, 
on affidavitfiled with him by any citizen of the United 
States that 'Section 1 of this act is being violated, 
showing a description of the land inclosed with 
reasonable certainty, not necessarily by metes and 
bounds nor by governmental subdivisions of surveyed 
lands, but only so that the inclosure may be identified, 
and the persons guilty of the violation as nearly as 
may be, and by description, if the name cannot on 
reasonable inquiry be ascertained, to institute a civil 
suit in the proper United States district or circuit 
court, or territorial district court, in the name of the 
United States, and against the parties named or de¬ 
scribed who shall be in charge of or controlling the 
inclosure complained of as defendants; ad jurisdic¬ 
tion is also hereby conferred on any United States 
district or circuit court or territorial district court 
having jurisdiction over, the locality where the land 
inclosed, or any part thereof, shall be situated, to 
hear and determine proceedings in equity, by writ 
of injunction, to restrain violations of the provisions 
of this act ; and it shall be sufficient to give the court 
jurisdiction if service of original process be had in 
any civil proceeding on any agent or employee hav¬ 
ing charge or control of the inclosure; and any suit 
brought under the provisions of this section shall 
have precedence, for hearing and trial over other 
cases on the civil docket of the court, and shall be 
tried and determined at the earliest practicable day. 
In any case if the inclosure shall be found to be un¬ 
lawful, the court shall make the proper order, judg¬ 
ment, or decree for the destruction of the inclosure, 
in a summary way, unless the inclosure shall be re¬ 
moved by the defendant within five days after the 
order of the court. 

(Continued on Page 7 ?) 













6 


PUBLIC LAND. 


MISCELLANY. 

♦ 


ANSWERS TO SUBSCRIBERS. 

Under this head complete answers will be given 
to subscribers’ questions concerning the public land 
of the United States. Name and address of each 
subscriber must be given with letter asking the 
question. 

A. C. C, Alaska: Can a citizen of the Dominion 
of Canada legally acquire title to mineral lands in 
Alaska without first declaring his intention to be¬ 
come a citizen of the United States? Answer: Yes. 
Section 13 of the Act of May 14, 1898, extends that 
right to native born citizens of British Columbia 
and the Northwest Territory the same rights as are 
allowed citizens of the United States in those prov¬ 
inces. See ‘‘Land Laws and Decisions,” page 5. 

G. S. M., Winona, Wash.: Is there any reason 
•why one cannot fence and use vacant Government 
land until it is filed upon by some one else ? Answer: 
Yes, the Act of February 25, 1885 (23 Stat. 321) 
strictly prohibits such actoin and provides a penalty. 
See “Land Laws and Decisions,” page 5. 

R. H. S., Aberdeen: What kind of land is that 
which is soon to be thrown open to settlement on 
the Fort Hall Reservation; is it timber or prairie, 
and is is necessary to irrigate in that section of coun¬ 
try in order to raise crops, and will the land cost any¬ 
thing beside the regular fees? Answer: See “New 
Opportunities,” page 4. 

A. K. Lynch, Nebraska: Will you kindly inform 
me whether a person who owns no land within the 
limits of a forest reserve can obtain the privilege 
of grazing sheep in a reserve, and !if so, how many; 
if ownership of land is necessary, how can it be 
acquired ? Answer: You could purchase land from 
any corporation or of any private individual who^ 
owned land therein, the same as you might do for 
any land outside of the reserve. The excerpt from 
Commissioner Hermann’s annual report under the 
head of “Current Topics” will answer the remainder 
of your question. 

Mrs. T. R., Oregon: I settled on a vacant quar¬ 
ter of unsurveyed land with my husband several 
years ago; the land has now been surveyed and the 
township plats will be filed in the local office, but 
my husband is serving in the regular army and is 


now in the Philippines. He has not deserted me, 
and his term of enlistment will not expire until long- 
after the expiration of the three months allowed to 
place his entry of record. Would I be considered a 
deserted wife under these circumstances and be per¬ 
mitted to make homestead entry of the land in my 
own name ? Answer : No, you could not make entry 
in that way, but your husband could make the home¬ 
stead affidavit before his commanding officer and 
send it to you when you could take it to the Land 
Office and file it yourself. See Section 2293 Re¬ 
vised Statutes, under “Land Laws and Decisions,” 
page 5. 

J. L. 'C., Washington: An American citizen by 
■birth used his homestead right, received patent after 
living full term on land, sold it, removed to British 
Columbia and became a British subject. Can he now 
return to the United States, take out “first papers” 
and exercise the right granted to such persons ? An¬ 
swer :No. He is the same person who made the first 
entry no matter what chages have taken place in his 
status as a citizen of the United States. The home¬ 
stead laws only extend to such aliens as declare their 
intentions to become citizens of the United States 
who have not heretofore received the benefits of that 
law. You will notice, therefore, that the second con¬ 
dition must be present in order to make the first 
effective. 

E. PI., Rock Cut, Washington: Can I hold a 
piece of Government land if I fence it and live on it? 
Answer: If the land is unsurveyed, or if surveyed 
and the township plats have not been filed your rights 
to the land would be protected by law for three 
months after they were filed, or if the plats had been 
filed in the local office before you made your settle¬ 
ment } r ou would be allowed three months in which 
* to place your entry of record. That is to say that 
another might file on the land at any time after the 
plats were filed and showed the land to be unclaimed. 
You. could come in within three months and would 
be given the right to contest the later comer’s entry, 
providing you furnished a duly corroborated affi¬ 
davit showing you to have been a settler on the land 
prior to' the filing of his application for the land, 
and providing the three months allowed you in which 
to offer your application for the land had not ex¬ 
pired, either prior to the date.of his entry or of your 
application to contest. You could therefore only 
hold possession of the land until it had been legal!v 
entered by some one else. 









PUBLIC LAND. 


7 


(Continued from Page 5 .) 

Sec. 3. That no person, by force, threats, intimi¬ 
dation, or by any fencing or inclosing, or any other 
unlawful means, shall prevent or obstruct, or shall 
combine and confederate with others to prevent or 
obstruct, any person from peaceably entering upon or 
establishing a settlement or residence on any tract 
of public land subject to settlement or enry under the 
public land laws of the United States, or shall pre¬ 
vent or obstruct free passage or transit over or 
through the public lands; Provided, This sec¬ 
tion shall not be held to affect the right or title of 
persons who have gone upon, improved or occupied 
said lands under'the land laws Of the United States, 
claiming title thereto, in 'good faith. 

Sec. 4. That.any person violating any of the pro¬ 
visions thereof, whether as owner, part owner, agent, 
or who shall aid, abet, counsel, advise, or assist in 
any violation hereof, shall be deemed guilty of a 
misdemeanor, and fined in a sum not exceeding 
$1000 and be imprisoned not exceeding one year 
for each offense. 

Sec. 5. That the President is hereby authorized 
to take such measures as shall be necessary to re¬ 
move and destroy any unlawful inclosure of any 
lands, and to employ civil or military force as may 
be necessary for that purpose. 

Sec. 6. That where the alleged unlawful in¬ 
closure includes less than 160 acres of land, no suit 
shall be brought under the provisions of this act with¬ 
out authority from the Secretary of the Interior. 

Sec. 7. That nothing herein shall effect any 
pending suits to work their discontinuance, but as 
to them hereafter they shall be prosecuted and deter¬ 
mined under the provisions of this act.” 

Approved February 25, 1885. 

PERSONALS. 

Register John B. West of the Lewiston (Idaho) 
land office, while on his way to Boise City, visited 
Register Ludden of the Spokane Falls office last 
week. 


The resignation of George W. Hayes as Register 
of the Burns (Ore.) land office has been the cause 
of a lively scramble among the office seekers or the 
friends of popular men for the office. Among those 
prominently mentioned for the place are J. B. Hunt¬ 
ington of Portland, William Farre of 'Canyon City, 
James J. Donnegan, I. S. Geer and Win Gowan of 
Burns. 


Register Edward W. Bartlett’s term of four years 
in the La Grande office expires in January, 1902, and 
this fact is causing no small amount of wire pulling 
among the friends of many Oregonians. Maroin A. 
Butler of Baker City is thought to; be in strogest 
favor, owing to his being United 'States Senator 
Mitchell’s law partner. Others believe that Asa B. 
Thompson of Pendleton and who helped Senator 
Mitchell to break the Oregon deadlock is very close 
to the prize. George H. Shinn of Baker City and 
Joseph F. Baker of La Grande are likewise in close 
pursuit. 


WE WANT TO KNOW. 

Under this head the publishers will ask a number 
of questions each week, and invite answers to them 
by any of our readers who may be interested in the 
development of their districts. We wish it distinct¬ 
ly understood that the answers must be composed of 
facts, wholly freed from all fiction, and based upon 
the personal knowledge of the person answering 
the question. As an evidence of good faith always 
give full name and postoffice, but not for publication. 

The full particulars concerning any discovery of 
asbestos in merchantable quantity and quality except 
those already reported from Orofino, Idaho, and 
Darrington, Wash. 

The full name and postoffice address of the owner 
or any person who since September 15, 1901, has 
discovered a ledge in place over 12 inches wide of 
free milling gold ore that has an average assay value 
of $20 or over to the ton. State also full particulars 
concerning the discovery and the location of the 
prospect. 

Full particulars concerning any placer or lode 
platinum mine that is being operated in the United 
States at the present time. State the name or names 
of present owners, whether lode or placer, and the 
average yield per day in ounces. Amount or extent 
of development work which has been done, as well 
as the exact location as to county and district, the 
nearest town and railroad point. 

One year’s subscription will be added to the credit 
of any subscriber who furnishes us absolutely cor¬ 
rect answers to any of the above questions. 

The hand that fits itself to alms usually shows the 
marks of the shackles of idleness. 














8 


PUBLIC LAND 


Land Offices and Officers of the United States. 

E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior Department, Washington, I). C. 
Binger Hermann, Commissioner General Laud Office, Washington, D. G 


Alabama— 

Huntsville. 

Montgomery. 

Alaska— 

Rampart. 

Sitka. 

St. Michael. 

Arizona— 

Prescott. 

Tucson. 

Arkansas— 

Camden. 

Dardanelle. 

Harrison. 

Little Rock.. 

California— 

Eureka. 

Independence. 

Los Angeles. 

Marysville. 

Redding. 

Sacraemnto. 

San Francisco ... 

Stockton. 

Susanville. 

Visalia. 

Colorado— 

Akron. 

Del Norte. 

Denver. 

Durango. 

Gunnison. 

Glenwood Springs 

Hugo. 

Leadville. 

Larnar. 

Montrose.. 

Pueblo...'.. 

Sterling. 

Florida— 

Gainesville. 

Idaho—• 

Blackfoot. 

Boise. 

Coeur d’Alene.... 

Hailey. 

Lewiston. 

Iowa— 

Des Moines. 

Kansas— 

Colby. 

Dodge City. 

Topeka. 

Wakeeny. 

Louisiana— 

Natchitoches. 

New Orleans. 

Michigan— 

Marquette. 

Minnesota— 

Crookston. 

Duluth. 

Marshall. 

St. Cloud. 

Mississippi— 

Jackson. 

Missouri— 

Boonville. 

Ironton. 

Springfield. 

Montana— 


REGISTER. 

John A. Steele. 

Robert Barker. 

P. M. Nullen. 

John W. Dudley. 

Franklin Moses. 

Fredrick A. Tritle, Jr.. 
Milton R. Moore. 

Charles T. Duke. 

Joseph H. Battenfield.. 
John I. Worthington... 
Harry H. Myers. 

Henry A. Olesten. 

Stafford W. Austin... 
Angus J. Crookshank. 

Frank W. Johnson- 

Frank M. Swasey. 

Thomas Fraser. 

Aaron B. Hunt. 

John D. Maxey. 

Thomas S. Roseberry. 
Geo. W. Stewart. 

Peter Campbell. 

James H. Baxter. 

Charles D. Ford. 

Fredrick C. Perkins... 

Melvin A. Deering. 

John F. Squire. 

Lon E. Foote. 

Wat T. Beall. 

Willia mA. Merrill. 

James A. Layton. 

John R. Gordon. 

David C. Fleming. 

Walter G. Robinson... 

Lorenzo R. Thomas... 

James King. 

David H. Budlong- 

Neal J. Sharp. 

John B. West. 

Thornton S. Howard.. 

Kleber E. Wilcockson. 

Thomas A. Scates. 

George W. Fisher. 

Isaac T. Purcell. 

J. Ernest Breda. 

Walter L. Cohen. 

Thomas Scadden. 

Sylvester Peterson.... 
William E. Culkin.... 

Cyrus P. Shepard. 

Myron D. Taylor. 

James Hill. 

William H. Martin — 

George Steel. 

Martin V. Gideon. 


RECEIVER. 
Herschel V. Cashin. 
John C. Leftwich. 

Wm. R. Edwards. 
Albert J. Apperson. 
Albert E. Rose. 

John C. Martin. 

John H. Bauman. 

Edward A. Shicker. 
John G. Chitwood. 
Felix S. Baker. 

John E. Bush. 

James F. Thompson. 
Frank E. Densmore. 
Arthur W. Kinney. 
Henry Malloch. 

Lloyd L. Carter. 
William A. Newcum 
Sargent S. Mortin. 
George A. McKenzie. 
Alfred H. Taylor. 
Othello Scribner. 

George W. Warner. 
Peter F. Barclay. 
Benjamin K Kimberly 
Daniel L. Sheets. 

Miss Martha C. Brown 
James W. Ross. 

John P. Dickinson. 
Fred Butler. 

C. Frost Liggett. 

John E. Pelton. 

John J. Lambert. 
Charles B. Timberlake 

Henry S. Chubb. 

George B. Rogers. 
Edward E. Garrett. 
Charles D. Warner. 
Wm. A. Hodgman. 
Charles H. Garby. 

Stephen J. Loughran. 

Cyrus Anderson. 

Lewis J. Pettijohn. 
Rudolph B. Welch. 
Frank W. King 

Charles J. Greene. 
Charles P. Johnston. 

John Jones. 

August F. George. 

Jay M. Smith. 
Christopher F. Case. 
Alva Eastman. 

George E. Matthews. 

Herman Schmidt. 

C. Sanford Russell. 
George A. Ramsey. 


Bozeman. 

Helena. 

Kalispell. 

Lewistown. 

Miles City. 

Missoula. 

Nebraska— 

Alliance. 

Broken Bow. 

Lincoln. 

McCook. 

North Platte. 

O'Neill. 

Sidney. 

Valentine. 

Nevada— 

Carson City. 

New Mexico— 

Clayton. 

Las Cruces. 

Roswell. 

Santa Fe. 

North Dakota— 

Bismarck. 

Devil’s Lake. 

Fargo. 

Grand Forxs. 

Minot. 

Oklahoma— 

Alva. 

*E1 Reno. 

Enid. 

Guthrie. 

Kingfisher. 

♦Lawton. 

Mangum... 

Oklahoma. 

Perry. 

Woodward. 

Oregon— 

Burns. 

La Grande.. 

Lakeview. 

Oregon City. 

Roseburg. 

The Dalles. 

South Dakota— 

Aberdeen. 

Chamberlain. 

Huron. 

Mitchell. 

Pierre. 

Rapid City. 

Watertown. 

Utah- 

Salt Lake City... 

Washington— 
North Yakima.... 

Olympia. 

Seattle. 

Spokane. 

Vancouver. 

Walla Walla. 

Waterville. 

Wisconsin— 

Ashland. 

Eau Claire. 

Wyoming— 

Buffalo. 

Cheyenne. 

Evanston. 

Douglas. 

Lander. 

Sundance. 


Albert L. Love. 

George D. Greene. 

Frank H. Nash. 

Edward Brassey. 

Samuel Gordon. 

Elmer E. Hershey. 

Fred M. Dorrington... 

James Whitehead. 

Joseph W. Johnson— 
Francis M. P.athbun.. 

George E. French. 

Stephen J. Weekes_ 

Robley D. Harris. 

James C. Pettijohn — 

Oliver H. Gallup. 

Edward W. Fox. 

Emil Solignac. 

Howard Leland. 

Manuel R. Otero. 

Alex. C. McGillivray.. 

Ole Serumgard. 

Charles N. Valentine. 

Ernest H. Kent. 

Thomas E. Olsgard... 

Robert A. Cameron... 


James B. Cullison. 

John Boles. 

Emory D. Brownlee.. 
Henry D. McNight. 

John A. Trotter. 

Seymour S. Price. 

Alfred H. Boles. 

Frank D. Healy. 

George W. Hayes. 

Edward W. Bartlett... 

Eldon M. Brattain. 

Charles B. Moores. 

Joseph T. Bridges. 

Jay P. Lucas. 

John S. Vetter. 

William V. Lucas. 

Charles A. Blake. 

George E. Foster. 

Albert Wheelon. 

George P. Bennett_ 

Lee Stover. 

Frank D. Hobbs. 

Walter J. Reed. 

Frank G. Deckebach. 
Edward P. Tremper.. 

William H. Ludden_ 

William R. Dunbar... 

John M. Hill. 

Matthew B. Malloy_ 

August Doenitz. 

Alfred Cypreansen.... 

Prince A. Gatchell_ 

William E. Chaplin... 

Charles Kingston. 

Albert D. Chamberlain. 

William T. Adams_ 

Alpha E. Hoyt. 


Andrew J. Edsall. 
John Horsky. 

William C. Whipps. 
Louis W. Eldridge. 
James M. Rhoades. 
William O. Ranft. 

William R. Akers. 
Frank H. Young. 
Thomas P. Kennard. 
Joel A. Piper. 

Frank Bacon. 

D. Clem Deaver. 

James L.McIntosh, Jr 
Albert L. Towle. 

David H. Hall. 

Albert W. Thompson. 
Henry D. Bowman. 
David L. Geyer. 
Edward F. Plobart. 

John Satterlund. 
Henry E. Baird. 
DeWitt C. Tufts. 
Christian L. Lindstrom 
Abner . Hanscom. 

William J. French. 


David W. Eastman. 
Fredrick E. McKinley. 
Jacob V. Admire. 

Limes D. Maguire. 

John A. Oliphant. 
Anton H. Classen. 

Joel R. Scott. 

John W. Miller. 

Charles Newell. 
Samuel O. Swackhamer 
Harry Bailey. 

William Galloway. 
James H. Booth. 

Otis Patterson. 

Frank A. Brown. 
Charles L. Brockway. 
John Westdahl. 
Thomas C. Burns. 
Henry E. Cutting. 
William S. Warner. 
George W. Case. 

George A. Smith. 

Miles Cannon. 

John O’B. Scobey. 
Columbus T. Tyler. 
Samuel A. Wells. 

Lynn B. Clough. 
Thomas Mosgrove. 
Lucien E. Kellog. 

Duportal G. Sampson 

Alexander Meggett. 

Ephraim H. Smock. 
Edward A. Slack. 
Frank M. Foote. 
Merris C. Barrow. 

Mrs. Minnie Williams. 
Samuel A. Young. 


* Officers that have just been established to accomodate the business 
from'theJKiowa and Comanche reservations. 


At* Hew Opportunities for Vou ana 
Vour frienas. * * « « * 

For a limited time “PUBLIC LAND” will be sent to five 
different addresses when sent in by one person for five dollars. 

Each issue of “PUBLIC LAND” will contain more of value 
to the subscriber interested in public land matters than the full 
price of the year’s subscription. Some will receive a hundred 
times more. Get your friends to subscribe now. Send all re¬ 
mittances whenever possible by Post Office or Express Money 
Order, made payable to “PUBLIC LAND.” 

Office 124-25 Auditorium Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


400 HOMESTEAD CLAIMS IN ADAMS 
COUNTY, STATE OF WASHINGTON. 

We have a Blue Print Map showing - the exact 
location of all the vacant land in that part of Adams 
■county, state of Washington, that is within the Spo¬ 
kane Falls district, which is corrected up to date, 
that we will give to every club raiser who sends us 
m ten paid yearly subscribers at one dollar each. The 
regular price of the map is $2.50. 

















































































































































































































ADVERTISEMENTS. 


“PUBLIC 
LAND 


55 


has made several of its readers over 


$500 


By bringing opportunities to their 
notice which they would not have 
learned in any other way. There 
are many more of these- 


ATTEND THE 

Puget Sound Business College 

for a practical, up-to-date business course. 
■Bookkeeping, penmanship, stenography 
and typewriting. Send ten cents for sam¬ 
ple dozen cards and how you can earn 
money diiring spare time. Address 
D. M. KNAUF, Principal, 902 Yakima ave., 
Tacoma, Wash. 


0. W. KENNEDY, 
Livery Stables, 


Gentle Driving Horses. Good Drivers to 
show you the land you want to see. 
Everything first class. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 


DOUGLAS HOTEL, 
William Newlove, Prop., 

AMERICAN PLAN. 

$1.00 and $1.60 Per Day. 
Prompt, Neat, Clean Service. 


WILSON CREEK, 


WASHINGTON. 


WENTWORTH CLOTHING CO. 

Reliable Mens’ and 
Boys’ Outfitters. 

<09-1 1 Riverside Ave. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 


J. W. MeCUNE, 

Farm and City Property For Sale 
or Exchange. 

MONEY TO LOAN. 

7-8 Sherwood Bib. SPOKANE, WASH. 


John McDowell, 

united States Commissioner and 
Justice of the Peace. 


Gold Butte, Mont. 


$500 


pieces in store for those who read 


“PUBLIC 

LAND” 

There will be more opportunities 
than you can possibly use, so just 
speak to four of your friends about 
subscribing and take advantage 
of our clubbing offer on page 8. 


WILSON CHEEK LIVERY STABLE 
R. J. Armstrong, Prop. 


GOOD HORSES, GOOD RIGS, GOOD 
DRIVERS, FIRST CLASS 
SERVICE. 


WILSON CREEK. 


WASHINGTON. 


CLAIR HUNT, 

Civil Engineer 
U. S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor. 

BOSSBURG, - - WASHINGTON. 


INLAND PRINTING COMPANY, 

610-612 Sprague Ave. 

Print Anything. Try us with your 
next order. 

It will save you money. 


II. L. SCHERMERHORN, 
United States Commissioner 


There’s lots of good Vacant Agricultural Laud 
tributary to 

LIND, , - - WASHINGTON 


H; S. Swenson, Clyde C. Henion, 

United States Commissioner. Notary Public’ 

SWENSON & HENION, 

Timber and Agricultural Lands. Homestead 
and timber locations. Agents townsite of New¬ 
port. 

Publishers of NEWPORT MINER, $i.5operyear. 
NEWPORT, WASHINGTON. 


PIANOS 

Being the only dealer in 
Spokane who buys direct 
from the manufacturer in 
carload lots, and for cash 
only, I am in a position 
to save you money if you 
want a piano.- 

AUGUST MEYER 

919 Riverside Ave. 


Ip ol films Coin, Mill 

A fine Blue Print Map of that part of 
Adams County, which is in the 
Spokane Falls, Washington Land 
District, comprising thirty-two town¬ 
ships and showing all the vacnat land 
in each township and corrected up 
to date will be sent by mail on re¬ 
ceipt of price— $ 2 . 50. Address 

“PUBLIC LAND" 

124-125 Auditorium Bldg. 

Spokane. Washington. 










































l H^u~u~a-^~a-*-a-*-a---a~a-*-a~n~a^a~n~R---a~a~n~a~a-«-an--u---a~R~a-«u~a-*-n~a~a-«-a-*-a-*-a-*-a-~a-*-n-*-a-*-a-*-fc 

Walton 8c Goodsell, Land Attorneys | 


Leave of absence from your Homestead. Applications to 
amend your Homstead and making of all papers pertaining to 
Public Lands. Contests, protests and other bearings before 
any U. S. Land Office. The Commissioner of the General 
Land Office and the Interior Department. Mining Applica¬ 
tions. Military Bounty Land Warrants. Forest Reserve, 
Soldier's Additional Homestead, and all other Land Scrips 
bought and sold. We can get your tangles straightened with¬ 
out your coming to the office 



Office Rooms 124-25 Auditorium Bloc.-c, Phone Main 369 

ipokane, Washington ^ j 

a~a~R~a-*-R-*-R~R*-a—a-*-R*-a-«-a-*-a---a-*-a-»-Ra—a—a-*-R-«-a-»-R-*-a-*-R-*-a-*-a-«-R-*-a-*-a-*-a-*-a-*-a'* , a-* , a-*j 



This will introduce the Northwestern Busi- £ 
LwikllL uess College t0 the readers of Public Land. The a 
purpose of this advertisement is to induce the $ 
4 $wSm I P u ^^ c to investigate the merits of the institution, f 

'■ for on m ^rit we build. f 


Its students hold United States records for 
proficiency in Civil Service and Bookkeeping. 

FIVE COURSES OF STUDY. 

Shorthand and Typewriting, Civil Service, Busi¬ 
ness, Normal, and Telegraphy. 

For detailed information call at the office or 
send for catalogue. 


I SPOKANE, WASH. 

♦a^a-a'-a-a-a-a^a-a-a-a-a-a-a^a-a-a-a-a'^a-a-a^a-a-a-a^a-a-a^a-^a^a-a^a^a-^a- 


; • 

























<5, DEVOTED TGTHOSE 

^ . 


PUBLISHED' 

WEEKLY. 


INTEREST E 
THE PVB L1C v.#\nvd 

THE VniTED STATE5 


$ 1.50 PER YEAR ft 
in ADVANCE. “ 

yjjgWigF- 


Vol. i. No. 16. Spokane, Wash., Dec. 3, 1901. Single Copies, 10 Cents 


CONTENTS. 


Current Topics— 

The Rush of Applications. 2 

Artsian Water. 2 

A Beef Famine. 2 

The Friends of Irrigation. 2 

A Bureau of Forestiy.2 

An International Boundry Com¬ 
mission... . 2 

Minerals and Timber— 

Mills Tributary to Spokane .... 3 

The Standard Mine.3 

Asbestos. 3 

Twenty Thousand Acres ...... 3 

The Portland Cement Company 3 

Two Thousand Dollars. 3 

The North Pacific Window Glass 

and Bottle Co. 3 

LaLe, County, Oregon. 3 

Important Coal Discovery ..... 3 


New Opportunities— 

Olympia Forest Reserve.. . 4 

Homes and Timber. 4 

Broken Bow, Nebraska. 4 

Two Hundred Thousand Acres 

in Ferry County, Wash. 4 

Land Laws and Decisions— 

Minerals Lands Open to Pur¬ 
chase by Citizens. 5 

Deputy Mineral Surveyor. 5 

Forest Reserve Scrip,. 5 

Possessory Rights ..5 

Miscellany— 

Answers to Subscribers. 6 

We Wdnt to Know. 7 

Saline Clause. 7 

Personals. 7 


Land Offices and Officers of the 
United States (cprrected)- 8 
























































ADVERTISEMENTS. 


JOSEPH HUDSON SHORT, 

Attorney at Law 
and 

United States Commissioner, 


VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI. 


BOLLIN J. REEVES, 


United States Commissioner, 


WILBUR, WASHINGTON. 

SIDNEY MOOR HEATH, 
United States Commissioner 

la and for District of Washington. 


HOQUIAM, WASHINGTON. 

A. R. SWANSON, 

United States Commissioner, 


Notary Public, Loans 
and Collections—Conveyancer 


WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 


GUMMING BROS. & POWELL, 
Choiee Timber and Homestead Loca¬ 
tions on Government Land. 

TIMBER CRUISED AND ESTIMATES GIVEN 

Fruit, grazing and ranch lands and pin# and 
cedar timber for sale. 

801tf Riverside Ave. SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


LAND SCRIP 

—-FOR---- 

Surveyed or Unsurveyed 

Government Land, lowest prices, 
and quick delivery. We also 
have some choice saw mill loca¬ 
tions, and timber lands in white 
pine belt of Northern Idaho. 

New Northwestern Lumber Co., 

62-63 Jameson Block. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


T. D. HASTIE, 

Attorney at Law, 

U. S. Court Commissioner. 

Homestead Pilings and Final Proofs. 
OROFINO, IDAHO. 

ORIN H WOODS, 
Surveyor and U. S. Commissioner. 

Land Filings and Final Proofs. 
Ditches Surveyed and Recorded. 

BASIN, WYOMING. 

JNO. JAS. GRAVES, 

Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, 
Conveyancer, Real Estate, 

MEYERS FALLS, WASHINGTON. 

FRED’K J. HOAGLAND, 


Attorney at Law, 


ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 

C. H HOLDEN, 

Attorney at Law. 

Choice timber lands In large or small 
tracts. Timber land cruised and estimates 
given. Government lands located. Fruit 
lands. Ranch land. Grazing land for sale. 
Climate unsurpassed; no cold, no heat, 
lands, ranch land, grazing land for sale, 
no cyclones. Correspondence solicited. 

FLORENCE, OREGON. 

J. W. MARSHALL, 
Attorney at Law. 

Practice In all the Courts. 

SOT Auditorium Blk., SPOKANE, WASH. 


HOMES FOR THE HOMESEEKERS 

LANDS FOR THE LANDLESS. 

We have a large list of the choicest 
farming lands In the Big Bend and 
throughout the Inland Empire. Improved 
farms $16 to $20 per acre. This Is the sec¬ 
tion that produces 30,000,000 bushels of 
wheat per annum. Fine fruit; no failures; 
ideal climate. Money placed for non-resi¬ 
dents on first mortgages on first class 
land. Trantum & Schoonover, Odessa,Wn. 


J. B. ZIEGLER, 

Notary Public, Real Estate and Fire 
Insurance Agent. 

IMPROVED FARM LANDS, RAW 
LANDS AND TOWN PROPER¬ 
TIES FOR SALE. 


Prices and Terms will be Furnished 
Promptly. 


Office on First Avenue. 


ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 





Quickly secured. OUR FEE DUE WHEN PATENT 
OBTAINED. Send model, sketch or photo, with 
description for free report as to patentability. 48-PAOE 
HAND-BOOK FREE. Contains references and full 
information. WRITE FOR COPT OF OUR SPECIAL 
OFFER. It is the most liberal proposition ever made by 
a patent attorney, and EVERY INVENTOR SHOULD 
READ IT before applying for patent. Address: 

H. B. WILLSON & CO. 


PATENT LAWYERS. 

LsDroit Bldg., WASHINGTON, D. C. 



Free Homesteads. 


There are over 100 good quarter sections with 
in short distance of the Great Northern Railroad 
that are subject to homestead entry, the same 
kind of land that produced 40 bushels of wheat 
to the acre this year. We have an accurate 
knowledge of these vacant tracts and will locate 
desirable parties on them at very reasonable 
rates. Call on 


H. E. STONE, 

With O. W. Stone Undertaking Co. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON 


; Sec our Clubbing Offer 
on Eighth Page. 






















































THE LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS, 

One Copy Riarvn, 

°£C. 9 1901 

CoPYRtom- emthy 

CLASS XXo. No. 

—X.” 


PUBLIC LAND. 


£//£//0/?£/7M££ /J £//£//0P£ 0££//£mim 



Offices 124-125 Auditorium Bldg., Spokane, Wash. 


ADVERTISING I^ATES ON APPLICATION. 
Entered at Spokane, Wash., as Second Class Mail Matter. 
Copyrighted 1901 by Walton & Goodsell. 

Vol. l. Spokane, Wash , Dec. 3,1901. No. 16. 


Re-enact the Chinese exclusion law. We have too 
many Orientals in this country already. 

The Louisiana Purchase Exposition will be 
opened to the public at St. Louis, Mo., April 30, 
1903. There will be no postponement of the date 
as has recently been reported. 


One of 'the most encouraging signs for the pass¬ 
age of the grazing land purchase bill is the fact that 
it is acquiring a respectable opposition. 

There is no other phase of the public land ques¬ 
tion that is receiving half the attention that is being 
devoted to the proposition to sell outright, at $1.25 
per acre, 160 acres of vacant Government land which 
is ONLY fit for grazing purposes, to each citizen of 
the United States. The only objection urged against 
the movement is that lands which are in fact suitable 
for cultivation will be smuggled 1 in under this law. 
This objection must necessarily proceed from the 
belief that the people have become so debased as to 
have no regard for a solemn oath. It might as well be 
urged that the Government mints should cease to 
coin money for the reason that there are some men 
who would steal it. These parties cjte the fact that 
thousands of acres of land is passing from the hands 
of the Government to parties who have perjured 
themselves to the extent of having made it appear 
to the Land Officers “that they had made the land 
their home to the exclusion of one elsewhere. 
While it is a fact that men are every day submitting 


1 


this kind of proof in support of their homestead 
claims, it does not necessarily follow that there 
would be more fraud, resulting from the passage of 
the proposed grazing land purchase law. On the 
other hand it is a fact patent to all who have given 
the matter any thought, that the only excuse offered 
by those offering this kind of proof is that they 
“can’t make a living on the land.” This is true in a 
very great number of cases where the land in its 
natural condition is not fit for cultivation, and which 
in fact is nothing but grazing land, and never will be. 
In such cases, cultivation is not required of the 
claimant and his use of the land for grazing purposes 
meets the usual cultivation requirements. Why then 
should men be forced to perjure themselves by the 
necessity of conditions imposed, when it is admitted 
that the present system does not even hold good in 
theory, and can it not be reasonably suggested that 
the absence of the proposed law is the direct cause 
of the most of the false proof referred to. The only 
way in which these tracts of land which are ONLY 
valuable for grazing purposes can be acquired is 
under the homestead law, which, among other things, 
requires five years’ actual residence. It is physically 
impossible for a man to support himself on 160 
acres of this land from its products. If he cannot 
make the land produce his living, where then is the 
sense of imposing the condition of residence, when 
it is a fact, patent to all, that he cannot and will 
not reside on the land to the exclusion of a home 
elsewhere. Under existing circumstances the Gov¬ 
ernment receives about $35 from the sale of 160 
acres of this land under the homestead law and the 
men are made to forfeit their self respect and indeed 
to violate the sacred law of the land by their support 
of a homestead proof which they know full well 
should and would fail if the facts were truly known. 
Why not give those who wish it the opportunity of 
acquiring title to 160 acres of land that is ONLY 
fit for grazing purposes! the right to do so without 
imposing impossible and unprofitable conditions, and 
when this can be done with large profit to the Na¬ 
tional Government. If the proposition reaches the 
dignity of a law, the Government will receive five 
times as much per acre for this character of land as it 
now does, thousands of acres of land will be taken 
up and improved, the tax receipts of nearly every 
county west of the Mississippi River will be ap¬ 
preciably increased and many localities will be de¬ 
veloped where there is scarcely anything more than 
a barren waste at the present time. 































2 


PUBLIC LAND. 


CURRENT TOPICS. 


THE RUSH OF APPLICATIONS for 
the survey of mining claims in the 
State of Oregon has necessitated an increase 
force of draughtsmen in Surveyor General 
Meldrum’s office. The rush at this time is due to the 
desire on the part of the companies to complete their 
applications for patent before the expiration of the 
year and by so doing save themselves another year’s 
assessment work. 


ARTSIAN WATER is being bored for at the 
s,tate penitentiary at Walla, Wash., and 
the efforts of Warden J. 'S. Catron 
to obtain water in that way are be¬ 
ing watched with much interest by the public. 
If an artesian flow can be obtained there, it will be 
the signal for the sinking of many wells in various 
parts of the state by men who have the money and 
are willing to do so, but are fraid that they might not 
be able to strike a sufficient flow to justify, the ex¬ 
pense. 


A BEEF FAMINE is what the syn¬ 
dicate herd owners promise for the Amer¬ 
ican people in the near future if some¬ 
thing is not done by the National Govern¬ 
ment looking to the preservation of the ranges. 
'These cattle men have been collecting data and sta¬ 
tistics by which they expect to show an enormous de¬ 
crease in the number of the cattle of this country, 
arid to show that decrease to be so alarming as to 
seriously threaten the beef supply of the nation. 
This result is alleged to be due to the crowding of 
the ranges and to the consequent killing off of the 
grass. This crowding is said to result from the 
rapid settlement of the western public lands. 


THE FRIENDS OF IRRIGATION for the 
arid and semi-arid lands of the west are rejoicing 
at. President Roosevelt’s attitude on the subject. In¬ 
deed, he is expected to officially express himself, not 
only in favor of National aid for the support of a 
liberal system of development along this line, but to 
recommend to Congress the passage of a law which 
will at once give the assistance needed by the west¬ 
ern states. The President has been in consultation 
with the irrigation experts of the Agricultural De¬ 
partment, and it is hoped that he will outline a ra¬ 
tional plan to meet the requirements of the west and 


at the same time secure the support of the eastern 
members of Congress. 


A BUREAU OF FORESTRY has just 
been created by Secretary Hitchcock ,of 
the Interior Department, with Filbut Roth 
of New York in charge and Edward X, 
Allen of Washington, inspector. New pol¬ 
icies have been outlined by the Secretary, who .re¬ 
gards the establishment of Forest Reserves of great 
necessity to the. preservation of the western forests. 
In the new policy outlined by the Secretary, he seems 
to follow the recommendations of Commissioner 
Hermann to exclude all agricultural land and to al¬ 
low the smallest possible basis for lieu selections. 
This, of course, will mean the elimination of much 
land that is practically worthless and which is of the. 
character affording the basis for nine-tenths of the 
lieu selections under the present law. 


AN INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY COM¬ 
MISSION is soon to • be ' established by 
the United States and Canada to defin¬ 
itely fix the Mount Baker boundary line. A 
joint survey-was run by the two governments last 
summer from the crest of the Rocky Mountains to 
the Pacific Ocean. The work of the United States 
was done by the United States Geological Survey 
and the Coast and Geodetic Survey. 

The original treaty of 1846 established the bound¬ 
ary at the forty-ninth parallel, but the surveys were 
not made until 1.857 and 1861 and then the line was 
only marked by establishing monuments in some of . 
the more prominent places, as on the banks of large 
streams and important trails which crossed the 
boundary. Many of these monuments and markings 
have become obscured and some obliterated and the 
heavy settlement of the territory all alone the line, 
together with a prvailing notion in the minds of 
many that the old surveys were incorrect, has neces- 
sitated a careful re-survey and extensive marking of 
the line in order to properly fix the responsibilities 
of the settlers and miners along the boundary, as well 
as to. mark the jurisdiction of the various admin¬ 
istrative officers. 

The distance from the crest of the Rocky Moun¬ 
tains to the Pacific Coast has been found to be 410 
miles. In reaching this the Rocky arid the Cascade 
Mountain ranges, covered with heavy forests or. 
timber,'great glaciers, as well as steep precipices," 
were penetrated and crossed. 











PUBLIC LAND. 


3 


MINERALS AND TIMBER. 


The mills tributary to Spokane, Wash., have com- 
' pleted deals with the Gould Manufacturing Com¬ 
pany of Oskosh, Wis., for the sale of about 25,000,- 
' 000 feet of lumber. 

The Standard mine in the Quartz'burg (Ore.) dis¬ 
trict boasts of having an eight-inch vein of the rich¬ 
est copper-cobalt ore ever struck. The ore is being 
sacked, weighed and marked preparatory to ship¬ 
ment to Germany. 


Asbestos has recently been discovered about three 
miles from Orofino, Idaho, by H. G. Niedrich of 
Moline, Ill. The deposit is just a few hundred feet 
from the Northern Pacific railroad. Five claims 
have been filed on the land adjoining the Niedrich 
discovery, and a company is being formed to work 
the property. Other discoveries are reported in 
Shoshone county on the North Fork of the Clear¬ 
water river, six miles above Orofino. 


Twenty thousand acres of fine timber in El- 
.dbrado County, California, will pass into the hands 
of a Minneapolis lumber syndicate during the next 
few days. It is reported that a mill will be erected 
at once.in the midst of this timber, which will be cut 
and placed upon the market as soon as the necessary 
arrangements can be made. Among the improve¬ 
ments incidental to this big enterprise is the con¬ 
struction of a railroad. The necessary expenditures 
are estimated at $1,000,000. 


The- Portland Cement Company.? by its officer 
made an official visit to its land and the site of its 
plant about fifty miles down the Pend d’Oreille River 
From Newport in Stevens County, Wash., last week. 
'The company proposes to expend about $25,000 in 
-the' construction of a plant, which they hope to have 
in operation by the first of March, 1902. Their 
product will be carried by boat to Newport and dis¬ 
tributed from there over the Great Northern Rail¬ 
road. 


Two thousand dollars for each 160-acre timber 
claim is the amount reported to have been paid by the 
Wright-Blodgett Company, Limited, of Saginaw, 
Mich., last week for eight sections of timber land 
near Albany, Ore. The same company is operating 


heavily in the Green Basin district and is paying the 
round figure of $2000 per claim. They have also 
picked up a number of claims along the Santiam 
River in both Linn and Marion Counties. It is ex¬ 
pected that this company will erect a large mill at 
Albany and will construct logging roads from these 
districts to that point. 


The North Pacific Window Glass and Bottle 
Company are pioneers in a new Washington indus¬ 
try. It has just completed a fine glass making plant 
at Seattle and will be prepared to go into-the busi¬ 
ness on an extensive scale as soon as a supply of 
materials can be collected. Good silica and lime rock 
(the two chief ingredients in the manufacture of 
glass) can be had in large quantities near the fac¬ 
tory. The furnace is a gas burner and uses crude 
petroleum as a base. A test heat has been made and 
everything works to perfection, so the success of the 
new company is well assured, and made doubly so 
by the recent receipt of large orders for its products. 


Lake County, Oregon, will probably possess one 
of the best developed potash fields within the next 
two years that can be found anywhere in the United 
States. About one thousand locations have been 
made near Summer and Albert Lakes, in the northern 
part of Lake County, about thirty miles north of 
Lakeview and about ten miles southwest of Alkali 
Lake. The development of this section is being done 
by the Oregon Potash Company and who claim to 
have completed arrangements with the Nevada, Cal¬ 
ifornia,. Oregon Railway Company-to build a broad 
gauge branch of their road into these potash fields 
from Reno. 


A most important coal discovery was effected last 
week on Cedar Mountain, sixteen miles from Seattle. 
The strike was made on the well-known Colman 
claim, which up to a few months ago was a most 
prolific producer of the best coal mined on the Coast. 
But the vein was lost and after much unsatisfactory 
exploration, the original owners sold the property. 
The new company secured the services of T. C. 
Corey, the mining engineer and coal expert, and who 
succeeded in relocating the lost deposit and discov¬ 
ered a twelve-foot vein of solid, clean coal. The en¬ 
gineer in making his computations estimates that 
there are at least 4,000,000 tons of coal in sight, 
making it one of the best bodies of coal this side of 
Pennsylvania. 


















4 


PUBLIC LAND, 


NEW OPPORTUNITIES. 

j ■ - 

OLYMPIC FOREST RESERVE. 

The Olympic Land Office received eighty-seven 
homestead and sixty-five timber and stone applica¬ 
tions from the land excluded from the Olympic For¬ 
est Reserve on the first day on which such applica¬ 
tions could be received. There is much fine fir 
and cedar timber, as well as good agricultural land, 
in the district opened, that lying between the Queets 
and Hoh rivers being particularly desirable. 


I: HOMES AND TIMBER. 

There are several choice homestead claims near 
Calispell in Stevens County, Washington, that are 
vacant. Most of the “open” land has been settled 
upon, and the claims remaining have a good stand 
of merchantable timber on them. The land is ex¬ 
cellent for agricultural purposes when the timber is 
removed. Flavius E. Pease, who lives near Calis¬ 
pell, will assist men with families to get themselves 
located. Mr. Pease has been a settler there for quite 
a while and has accurate information concerning the 
land and surveys in that vicinity. He hasn’t any 
time or money to waste on the fellow who only has 
sufficient energy to write fourteen useless questions, 
but is ready to assist any man with a family to get 
a home for himself and them. If you want a home 
on good timbered agricultural land, lose no time in 
going to see Mr. Pease. He lives in section ten, 
township thirty-two and range forty-three. Calis¬ 
pell is about twenty miles north of Milan on the 
Great Northern railroad and in the Calispell Valley. 


BROKEN BOW, NEBRASKA. 

Register James Whitehead of the Broken Bow 
Office briefly outlined the opportunities that are af¬ 
forded by his office. 

“There is no timber land of any kind in this dis¬ 
trict, which comprises 202 townships northwest of 
the center of Nebraska. Neither are there minerals 
of any kind. We have, however, over 2,400,000 
acres of the best grazing and ranch land to be found 
anywhere. In the western half of this district, in 
the sand-hill country, five-sixths of the land is vacant, 
many townships having only one to five entries. Cat¬ 
tle are grazed on all of this land, at the present time, 
but not nearly to the limit of production. There are 


any number of valley claims to be had that will fur¬ 
nish hay for (wintering stock. While the valley land 
among the sand-hills is being taken up> the hill lands 
will certainly remain open for a great many years, 
owing to the fact that they are suitable only for graz¬ 
ing, and should be combined with hay and farming 
land to be profitable. In the eastern portion of the 
district, lands valuable for farming purposes may yet 
be secured. 

Nearness to market is another advantage which 
this district enjoys. A few large ranches are located 
here, but the small ranchman, who improves the 
country, is what we want.” 


TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND ACRES IN 
FERRY -COUNTY, WASHINGTON. 

One of the best fields open to the homeseeker at 
the present time is Ferry County in the State of 
Washington. The land in this county was a part 
of the North Half of the Colville Indian Reserva¬ 
tion, which was opened to homestead settlement 
October 10, 1900. There are approximately 850,000 
acres in this country which was in the “North Half.” 
About 35,000 acres has been filed upon 
by the whites and allotted to the In¬ 
dians. Settlements have been made on a 
large area, but is not applied for, owing to the 
fact that only about one-sixth of the land is sur¬ 
veyed. Much of the land is mineral in character and 
therefore not subject to appropriation under the set¬ 
tlement laws, but after allowing for these different 
items it is estimated that there are at least 200,000 
acres left which is excellent agricultural land. 

The climatic conditions are favorable to the 
growth of all kinds of vegetables and the hardy 
fruits. There is an abundance' of timber for fuel and 
lumber. The county is well watered and much of 
the land is covered with “bunch” grass, the most 
nutritious to be had. Gold, silver, lead and copper 
has been discovered in large quantities and the min¬ 
ing industry is going steadily forward. New loca¬ 
tions are being made every day and many of the 
mines are handsome dividend payers. The agricul¬ 
turists will always have an excellent home market 
for all kinds of produce, poultry, stock and grains, 
owing to the increasing number of men that are em¬ 
ployed in the development of the rich mineral re¬ 
sources of the district. Republic is the county seat 
and just now has two railroads building into it, the 
Great Northern Railroad and the Grand Forks Rail¬ 
road are each trying to beat the other there. 















PUBLIC 


LAND LAWS AND DECISIONS. 

“Sec. 1992. All persons born in the United 
States and not subject to any foreign power, exclud¬ 
ing Indians, not taxed, are declared to be citizens of 
the United States.” 

MINERAL LANDS OPEN TO PURCHASE 
BY CITIZENS. 

Sec. 2319. All valuable mineral deposits in lands 
belonging to the United States, both surveyed and 
unsurveyed, and are hereby declared to be free and 
open to exploration and purchase, and the lands in 
which they are 'found to occupation and purchase, 
bv citizens of the United States and those who have 
declared their intention to become such, under regu¬ 
lations prescribed by law, and according to the local 
customs or rules of miners in the several mining 
districts, as far as the same are applicable, and not 
inconsistent with the laws of the United States.” 

DEPUTY MINERAL SURVEYORS. 

“90. The surveyors-general of the several dis¬ 
tricts will, in pursuance of said law, appoint in each 
land district as many competent surveyors for the 
survey of mining claims as may seek such appoint¬ 
ment, it being distinctly understood that all expenses 
of these notices and surveys are to be borne by the 
mining claimants and not by the United States. The 
.statute provides that the claimant shall also be at 
liberty to employ any United States deputy surveyor 
to make the survey. Each surveyor appointed .to 
survey mining claims before entering upon the duties 
of his office or appointment shall be required to enter 
into such bond for the faithful performance of his 
duties as may be prescribed by the regulations of the 
land department in force at that time.” 

■ FOREST RESERVE SCRIP, MINERAL 
LIMITS. 

“104. In lieu selections under the acts of June 4, 
1897, and June 6, 19©^ of land which has been re¬ 
turned as mineral ,or which is within six miles of 
any mining claim, notice of the selection, commenc¬ 
ing within twenty days thereafter, must be given 
for a period of thirty days, by posting upon the land 
and in the local land office, and by publication at the 
cost of the applicant in a newspaper designated by 
the register as of general circulation m the vicinity 
of the land and published nearest thereto. Where 
the selection embraces noil-contiguous tracts the no¬ 
tice must be posted upon each tract; but such notice 
will not be required in any case where the selection 
is in lieu of ‘a tract covered by an unperiected bona 


LAND. 5 


fide claim,’ viz: A tract the title to which has not 
passed out of the United States or for which patent 
certificate has not issued.” 


POSSESSORY RIGHT. 

“74. The provisions of Section 2332, Revised 
Statutes, will greatly lessen the burden ; of proof, 
more especially in the case of old claims located many 
■years since, the records of which, in many cases, have 
been destroyed by fire, or lost in other ways during 
the lapse of time, but concerning the possessory 
right to which all controversy or litigation has long 
been settled. 

75. When an applicant desires to make his 
proof of possessory right in accordance with this 
provision oI law, he will not be required to produce 
evidence of location, copies of conveyances, or ab¬ 
stracts of title, as in other cases, but tvill be required 
to furnish a duly certified copy of the statute of limi¬ 
tation of mining claims for the State or Territory, 
together with his’ sworn statement giving a clear 
and succinct narration of the facts as to the origin 
of his title, and likewise as to the continuation of his 
possession of the mining ground oovered by his ap¬ 
plication; the area thereof; the nature and extent of 
the mining that has been done thereon; whether there 
has been any opposition to his possession, or litiga¬ 
tion with regard to his claim, and if so, when the 
same ceased; whether such cessation was caused by 
compromise or by judicial decree, and any additional 
facts within the claimant’s knowledge having a di¬ 
rect bearing upon his possession and bona fides 
which he may desire to submit in support of his 
claim. 

76. There should likewise be filed a certificate, 
under seal of the court having jurisdiction of mining 
cases within the judicial district embracing the claim, 
that no suit or action'of any character whatever in¬ 
volving the right of possession to. any portion of the 
claim applied for is pending, and that there has been 
no litigation before said court affecting the title to 
said claim or any part thereof for a period equal to 
the time fixed by the statute of limitations for min¬ 
ing claims in the State or Territory as aforesaid, 
other than that which has been finally decided in 
favor of the claimant. 

77. The claimant should support his narrative 
of facts relative to his possession, occupancy, and 
improvements by corroborative testimony of any dis¬ 
interested person or persons of credibility who may 
be cognizant of the facts in the case and are capable 
of testifying understandingly in the premises.” 














6 


PUBLIC LAND. 


MISCELLANY. 


ANSWERS TO SUBSCRIBERS. 

Under this head complete answers will be given 
to subscribers’ questions concerning the public land, 
of the United States. Name and address of each 
subscriber must be given with letter asking the 
question. 

J. R. O’. F., Orting, Wash.: Kindly advise me 
haw to proceed to procure a water right for power 
purposes on a stream or water fall, and how lang my 
location would be good without actual work being 
done toward the construction of plant, etc. ? Answer: 
You must post a notice in a conspicuous place where 
you wish to store or divert it, stating amount to be 
used in cubic -feet per second, for what purpose and 
where it is to be used. A copy of this notice must be 
filed with the Auditor of the county within io days 
from date of posting, and within six months you 
must commence diverting the water, if it is to be 
diverted, but if it is not diverted you must commence 
preparations for its use within three months from 
date of posting. 


A. T. L., Republic, Wash.: A. Can Forest Re ¬ 
serve scrip be located on mineral land when the land 
relinquished had been acquired under the mineral 
land laws. B. Can Forest Reserve be located on land 
which has been returned as mineral, but which in 
fact has no value whatever for mineral ? 

Answers : A. No; the act of June 4, 1897, did 
not apply to mineral land, and before any locations 
can be made under that act it must be shown to be 
non-mineral. B. Yes, Forest Reserve lieu can be 
located upon non-mineral land which has been re¬ 
turned as mineral, but in, subh cases a notice must 
be posted upon the land, in the land office, and pub¬ 
lished in a paper (designated by the register) near¬ 
est the land and at the expense of the applicant. See 
act of June 4, 1897, and “Mining Regulations,” 
paragraph 104 under Land Laws and Decisions, 
page 5 - 

Z. T. O., Tallahassee, Fla.: Will you inform me 
if there is a monopoly of mineral surveyors in the 
mining country tributary to Spokane, and whether 
you believe a stranger, though a competent man, 
could get work of that kind ? 

Answer: Surveyor General Kingsbury of the 


State of Washington is authorized to appoint as 
many competent surveyors as may seek such ap¬ 
pointment. The mining country directly tributary 
to Spokane embraces several hundred square miles, 
and is practically in the preliminary stages of devel¬ 
opment, although each tick of the clock finds the 
Inland Empire richer by thousands of dollars. Aside 
from your ability as' a surveyor, your success will 
depend, as it does in all lines of business, upon your 
own personality. See paragraph 90, “Mining Regu¬ 
lations,” under “Land Laws and Decisions,” page 5. 


J. R., Winona, Wash.: If after one has tried to 
raise timber on a trace of land entered under the 
timber culture law, and it is found that the timber 
can not be made to grow with ordinary cultivation, 
can one pay for the land so entered? 

Answer: Yes, the land can be paid for under the 
act of March 3, 1891, provided final proof is made 
within the life of the entry and it is shown that there 
has been four years of continuous planting and cul¬ 
tivation next preceding the date of application; or 
proof can be made without payment if eight years’ 
planting and cultivation are shown. The price per 
acre will be $1.25 and the regular land office fees 
and commissions. The provision permitting pay¬ 
ment for the land with four years’ compliance is 
limited to actual residents of the State or Territory 
in which the land is located. See “Land Law's and 
Decisions,” page 5. 


C. F. C., Bluecreek, Wash.: Will you inform me 
if a minor can make a valid location under the min¬ 
eral land laws of the United States, and, if so, what 
must be done to transfer title from minor to' an in¬ 
tending purchaser? 

Answer: Section 2319, Revised Statutes, pro¬ 
vides for the sale of mineral land to citizens and 
those who have declared themselves to become citi¬ 
zens. Section 1992, Revised Statutes, defines the 
citizen to be “all persons born in the United States 
and not subject to any foreign power, excluding In¬ 
dians, not taxed.” Notwithstanding this apparent 
warrant for the practice, we do not believe a minor 
can make the location contemplated by the federal 
statutes unless lie is the head of a family or has 
served at least fourteen days in the army or navy 
of the United States. The sale of the claim by the 
minor must be effected by and through a duly quali¬ 
fied guardian. See “Land Laws and Decisions” for 
Sections 1993 and 2319, page 5. 














PUBLIC LAND. 


WE WANT TO KNOW. 

Under this head the publishers will ask a number 
of questions each week, and invite answers to them 
by any of. our readers who may be interested in the 
development of their districts. We wish it distinct¬ 
ly understood that the answers must be composed of 
facts, wholly freed from all fiction, and based upon 
the personal knowledge of the person answering 
the question. As an. evidence of good faith always 
give full name and postoffice, but not for publication. 

- The full particulars concerning any discovery of 
rock salt pn vacant Government land except that re¬ 
ported last week from Oregon on the Malheur river. 
States as near the exact location as possible, give 
full names and post office addresses of discoverers 
and whether a number of locations have been made 
or not, 


The full particulars concerning any salt wells or 
springs that have been developed west of the Rocky 
mountains except in Utah. State product of wells 
and method of evaporation and marketing product. 

One year’s subscription will be added to the credit 
of any subscriber who furnishes us absolutely cor¬ 
rect answers to any of the above questions. 

U. S. COMMISSIONERS AND CLERKS OF 
COURT BE SURE THAT ALL NON-MINER¬ 
AL.. AFFIDAVITS HEREAFTER SENT IN 
WITH APPLICATIONS CONTAIN THE 
NON-SALINE CLAUSE, REQUIRED BY THE 
FOLLOWING DEPARTMENTAL INSTRUC¬ 
TION : 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. 

GENERAL LAND OFFICE. 

Washington, D. C, Nov. 19, 1901. 
Registers and Receivers, 

United "States Land Offices. 

Gentlemen—Under .departmental instructions of 
November 15, 1901, non-mineral affidavits are re¬ 
quired in all States and Territories to which the gen¬ 
eral mining laws are applicable, said non-mineral af¬ 
fidavits having been changed by adding thereto, 
after the word “deposit,” in the thirteenth line of the 
body of the affidavit* the following: “that the land 
contains no salt spring or deposits of salt in any form 
sufficient to render it valuable therefor.” This will 
govern "all future applications. Copy of form as ap¬ 
proved by the department will follow. 


7 


Please acknowledge receipt of this. Very respect¬ 
fully, BINGER HERMANN, 

Commissioner. 

PERSONALS. 

Receiver Charles D. Warner of the Coeur d’Alene 
(Idaho) office was a visitor at the Spokane office last 
week. 

United States Senator Mitchell of Oregon has an¬ 
nounced himself in favor of the re-enactment of the 
Geary Chinese exclusion act. 

H. M. White of Whatcom, Wash., has a nice 
homestead near the head of Lake Whatcom. Mr. 
White is also a popular attorney of that city and 
his friends are urging him to accept the;nomination 
for city attorney. He would like to keep the home¬ 
stead and'also be elected city attorney. 

H. H. Schwartz, stationed at Spokane, has been 
doing Oregon for several weeks, and if those who 
have attempted to get title to timber land by fraudu¬ 
lent proofs do not make his acquaintance in the near 
future, they may rest assured that he has been busy 
in some other quarter. 

The State School Board of Oregon has recently 
applied to have hearings to determine the non¬ 
mineral character of about 200 sections of land in 
Malheur County, for the purpose of selecting them 
in lieu of lands, lost by the State which fell to it by 
its enabling act through •which it acquires sections 
thirteen and thirty-six of each township'for school 
purposes.' Mr. Schwartz is representing the Govern¬ 
ment at these hearings. 

Elizabeth E. Beecroft was the fourth woman to 
make homestead entry, on that part of the North 
Half of the Colville Reservation which is in the 
Spokane Falls (Wash.) land district. The three 
ladies who preceded her in point of time were Anna 

L. Hickey of Marcus, Catherine Chittick of Boss- 
burg and Erma J. Fletcher of Republic. However, 
since making homestead No. 36, Col. S. for lots 6 
and 7. E. 1-2 SW. 1-4.of Sec. 29 and NE. 1-4 NW. 
1-4 of Sec. 32, Township 38 N. of Range 33 E. W. 

M. , for 170.15 acres, Miss Bancroft has married 
Mr. A. Itter and will make commutation proof on 
her homestead before December 23, 1901. By'so 
doing she will probably receive the first final certifi¬ 
cate issued for Colville agricultural land in the Spo¬ 
kane Falls district. 


RUSSIA IS GOING TO THROW all of the 
Siberian Peninsula, from the Behring Sea to the Arc¬ 
tic, open to mineral exploration next spring. 















OEC 9 1901 


8 


PUBLIC LAND. 


Land Offices and Officers of the United States. 


E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior Department, Washington, D. C. 
Binger Hermann, Commissioner General Land Office, Washington, D. G 


Alabama— 

Huntsville. 

Montgomery. 

Alaska— 

Rampart. 

Sitka. 

St. Michael. 

Arizona— 

Prescott. 

Tucson. 

Arkansas— 

Camden. 

Dardanelle. 

Harrison. 

Little Rock. 

California— 

Eureka. 

Independence. 

Los Angeles. 

Marysville. 

Redding. 

Sacraemnto. 

San Francisco ... 

Stockton. 

Susanville. 

Visalia. 

Colorado— 

Akron.. 

Del Norte. 

Denver. 

Durango. 

Gunnison. 

Glenwood Springs 

Hugo. 

Leadville. 

Lamar. 

Montrose. 

Pueblo. 

Sterling. 

Florida— 

Gainesville. 

Idaho— 

Blackfoot. 

Boise. 

Coeur d’Alene.... 

Hailey. 

Lewiston. 

Iowa— 

Des Moines. 

Kansas— 

Colby. 

Dodge City. 

Topeka. 

Wakeeny. 

Louisiana— 

Natchitoches. 

New Orleans. 

Michigan— 

Marquette. 

Minnesota— 

Crookston. 

Duluth. 

Marshall...... 

St. Cloud. 

Mississippi— 

Jackson. 

Missouri— 

Boonville. 

Ironton. 

Springfield. 

Montana— 


REGISTER. 

John A. Steele. 

Robert Barker. 

P. M. Nalien. 

John W. Dudley. 

Franklin Moses. 

Fredrick A. Tritle, Jr.. 
Milton R. Moore. 

Charles T. Duke. 

Joseph H. Battenfield.. 
John I. Worthington... 
Harry PI. Myers. 

Henry A. Olesten. 

Stafford W. Austin... 
Angus J. Crookshanlc. 

Frank W. Johnson- 

Frank M. Swasey. 

Thomas Fraser. 

Aaron B. Hunt. 

John D. Maxey. 

Thomas S. Roseberry. 
Geo. W. Stewart. 

Peter Campbell. 

James H. Baxter. 

Charles D. Ford. 

Fredrick C. Perkins... 

Melvin A. Deering. 

John F. Squire. 

Lon E. Foote. 

Wat T. Beall.... : . 

Willia mA. Merrill. 

James A. Layton. 

John R. Gordon. 

David C. Fleming. 

Walter G. Robinson... 

Lorenzo R. Thomas... 

James King. 

David H. Budlong- 

Neal J. Sharp. 

John B. West. 

Thornton S. Howard.. 

Kleber E. Wilcockson. 

Thomas A. Scates. 

George W. Fisher. 

Isaac T. Purcell. 

J. Ernest Breda.. 

Walter L. Cohen. 

Thomas Scadden. 

Sylvester Peterson.... 

William E. Culkin- 

Cyrus P. Shepard. 

Myron D. Taylor. 

James Hill. 

William H. Martin.... 

George Steel. 

Martin V. Gideon.. 


RECEIVER. 
Plerschel V. Cashin. 
John C. Leftwich. 

Wm. R. Edwards. 
Albert J. Apperson. 
Albert E. Rose. 

John C. Martin. 

John H. Bauman. 

Edward A. Shicker. 
John G. Chitwood. 
Felix S. Baker. 

John E. Bush. 

James F. Thompson. 
Prank E. Densmore. 
Arthur W. Kinney. 
Henry Malloch. 

Lloyd L. Carter. 
William A. Newcum 
Sargent S. Mortin. 
George A. McKenzie. 
Alfred H. Taylor. 
Othello Scribner. 

George W. Warner. 
Peter F. Barclay. 
Benjamin K Kimberly 
Daniel L. Sheets. 

Miss Martha C. Brown 
James W. Ross. 

John P. Dickinson. 
Fred Butler. 

C. Frost Liggett. 

John E. Pelton. 

John J. Lambert. 
Charles B. Timberlake 

Henry S. Chubb. 

George B. Rogers. 
Edward E. Garrett. 
Charles D. Warner. 
Wm. A. Hodgman. 
Charles H. Garby. 

Stephen J. Loughran. 

Cyrus Anderson. 

Lewis J. Pettijohn. 
Rudolph B. Welch. 
Frank W. King 

Charles J. Greene. 
Charles P. Johnston. 

John Jones. 

August F. George. 

Jay M. Smith. 
Christopher F. Case. 
Alva Eastman. 

George E. Matthews. 

Herman Schmidt. 

C. Sanford Russell. 
George A. Ramsey. 


Bozeman. 

Helena. 

Kalispell. 

Lewistown. 

Miles City. 

Missoula. 

Nebraska— 

Alliance. 

Broken Bow. 

Lincoln. 

McCook. 

North Platte. 

O’Neill. 

Sidney. 

Valentine. 

Nevada— 

Carson City. 

New Mexico— 

Clayton. 

Las Cruces. 

Roswell. 

Santa Fe.„... 

North Dakota— 

Bismarck. 

Devil’s Lake. 

Fargo. 

Grand Forxs. 

Minot. 

Oklahoma— 

Alva. 

♦El Reno.... 

Enid. 

Guthrie. 

Kingfisher. 

♦Lawton. 

Mangum. 

Oklahoma. 

Perry. 

Woodward. 

Oregon— 

Burns. 

La Grande. 

Lakeview. 

Oregon City. 

Roseburg. 

The Dalles. 

South Dakota— 

Aberdeen. 

Chamberlain. 

Huron. 

Mitchell. 

Pierre. 

Rapid City. 

Watertown. 

Utah- 

Salt Lake City... 

Washington- 
North Yakima.... 

Olympia. 

Seattle. 

Spokane. 

Vancouver. 

Walla Walla. 

Waterville. 

Wisconsin— 

Ashland. 

Eau Claire. 

Wyoming- 

Buff alo. 

Cheyenne. 

Evanston. 

Douglas. 

Lander. 

Sundance. 


Albert L. Love. 

George D. Greene. 

Frank H. Nash. 

Edward Brassey. 

Samuel Gordon. 

Elmer E. Hershey. 

Fred M. Dorrington... 

James Whitehead. 

Joseph W. Johnson.... 
Francis M. Rathbun.. 

George E. French. 

Stephen J. Weekes.... 

Robley D. Harris. 

James C. Pettijohn.... 

Oliver H. Gallup. 

Edward W. Fox. 

Emil Solignac. 

Howard Leland. 

Manuel R. Otero. 

Alex. C. McGillivray.. 

Ole Serumgard. 

Charles N. Valentine. 

Ernest H. Kent. 

Thomas E. Olsgard... 

Robert A. Cameron... 


James B. Cullison. 

John Boles. 

Emory D. Brownlee.. 
Henry D. McNight. 

John A. Trotter. 

Seymour S. Price. 

Alfred H. Boles. 

Frank D. Healy. 

George W. Hayes. 

Edward W. Bartlett... 

Eldon M. Brattain. 

Charles B. Moores. 

Joseph T. Bridges. 

Jay P. Lucas. 

John S. Vetter. 

William V. Lucas. 

Charles A. Blake. 

George E. Foster. 

Albert Wheelon. 

George P. Bennett.... 
Lee Stover. 

Frank D. Hobbs. 

Walter J. Reed. 

Frank G. Deckebach. 
Edward P. Tremper.. 
William H. Ludden.... 
William R. Dunbar... 

John M. Hill. 

Matthew B. Malloy_ 

August Doenitz. 

Alfred Cypreansen.... 

Prince A. Gatchell_ 

William E. Chaplin... 

Charles Kingston. 

Albert D. Chamberlain. 

William T. Adams_ 

Alpha E. Hoyt.' 


Andrew J. Edsall. 
John Horsky. 

William C. Whipps. 
Louis W. Eldridge. 
James M. Rhoades. 
William O. Ranft. 

William R. Akers. 
B’rank H. Young. 
Thomas P. Kennard. 
Joel A. Piper. 

Frank Bacon. 

D. Clem Denver. 

James L.McIntosh, Jr 
Albert L. Towle. 

David H. Hall. 

Albert W. Thompson. 
Henry D. Bowman. 
David L. Geyer. 
Edward F. Hobart. 

John Satterlund. 
Henry E. Baird. 
DeWitt C. Tufts. 
Christian L. Lindstrom 
Abner . Hanscom. 

William J. French. 


David W. Eastman. 
Fredrick E. McKinley. 
Jacob V. Admire. 

Tnmes D. Maguire. 

John A. Oliphant. 
Anton H. Classen. 

Joel R. Scott. 

John W. Miller. 

Charles Newell. 
Samuel O. Swackhamer 
Harry Bailey. 

William Galloway. 
James H. Booth. 

Otis Patterson. 

Frank A. Brown. 
Charles L. Brockway. 
John Westdahl. 
Thomas C. Burns. 
Henry E. Cutting. 
William S. Warner. 
George W. Case. 

George A. Smith. 

Miles Cannon. 

John O’B. Scobey. 
Columbus T. Tyler. 
Samuel A. Wells. 

Lynn B. Clough. 
Thomas Mosgrove. 
Lucien E. Kellog. 

Duportal G. Sampson 

Alexander Meggett. 

Ephraim H. Smock. 
Edward A. Slack. 
Frank M. Foote. 
Merris C. Barrow. 

Mrs. Minnie Williams. 
Samuel A. Young. 


^Officers that have just been established to accomodate the business 
from'thesKiowa and Comanche reservations. 


/7hlh Aff ap Opportunities for Vou and 

!6IMv Irllvl# your Triends. « « « « « 

For a limited time “PUBLIC LAND” will be sent to five 
different addresses when sent in by one person for five dollars. 

Each issue of “PUBLIC LAND” will contain more of value 
to the subscriber interested in public laud matters than the full 
price of the year’s subscription. Some will receive a hundred 
times more. Get your friends to subscribe now. Send all re¬ 
mittances whenever possible by Post Office or Express Money 
Order, made payable to “PUBLIC LAND.” 

Office 124-25 Auditorium Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


400 HOMESTEAD CLAIMS IN ADAMS 
COUNTY, STATE OF WASHINGTON. 

We have a Blue Print Map showing the exact 
location of all the vacant land in that part of Adams 
county, state o>f Washington, that is within the Spo¬ 
kane Falls district, which is corrected up to date, 
that we will give to every club raiser who sends us 
in ten paid yearly subscribers at one dollar each. The 
regular price of the map is $2.50. 
















































































































































































































advertisements. 


“PUBLIC 

LAND” 


ATTEND THE 

Puget Sound Business College 

for a practical, up-to-date business course. 
■Bookkeeping, penmanship, stenography 
and typewriting. Send ten cents for sam¬ 
ple dozen cards and how you can earn 
™oney during spare time. Address 
D. M. KNAUF, Principal, 902 Yakima aye., 
Tacoma, Wash. 


WENTWORTH CLOTHING GO. 

Reliable Mens’ and 
Boys’ Outfitters. 

709-11 Riverside Ave, 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 

J. W. MeCUNE, 


has made several of its readers over 


0. W. KENNEDY, 
livery Stable*, 


Farm and City Property For Sale 
or Exchange. 

MONEY TO LOAN. 


$500 


Gentle Driving Horses. Good Drivers to 
show you the land you want to see. 
Everything first class. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 


DOUGLAS HOTEL, 


7-8 Sherwood Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 

john McDowell, 

united States Commissioner and 
Justice of the Peace. 


Byjbringing opportunities to their 
notice which they would not have 
learned in any other way. There 
are many more of these- 

$500 

pieces in store for those who read 

“PUBLIC 

LAND” 

There will be more opportunities 
than you can possibly use, so just 
speak to four of your friends about 


William Newlove, Prop., 

AMERICAN PLAN. 

*1.00 and *1.50 Per Day. 

Prompt, Neat, Clean Service, 

WILSON CREEKS WASHINGTON. 

WILSON CHEEK LIVEBY STABLE 
B. J. Armstrong, Prop. 

GOOD HORSES, GOOD RIGS, GOOD 
DRIVERS, FIRST CLASS 
SERVICE. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 

CLAIR HUNT, 

Civil E^ngineser* 

U. S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor. 

B0SSBURG, - - WASHINGTON. 


INLAND PRINTING COMPANY, 

610-612 Sprague Ave. 

Print Anything. Try us with your 
next order. 

It will save you money. 

M. L. SCHERMERH0RN, 
United States Commissioner 


Gold Butte, Mont. 


h: S. Swenson, Clyde C. Henion, 

United States Commissioner. Notary Public’ 

SWENSON & HENION, 

Timber and Agricultural I,ands. Homestead 
and timber locations. Agents townsite of New- 
port. 

Publishers of NEWPORT MINER, f 1.50’peryear. 
NEWPORT, WASHINGTON. 


PIANOS 

Being the only dealer in 
. Spokane who buys direct 
from the manufacturer in 
carload lots, and for cash 
only, I am in a position 
to save you money if you 
want a piano.- 

AUGUST MEYER 

9\9 Riverside Ave. 


ip ol Alms Coinli, Mil 

A fine Blue Print Map of that part of 
Adams County, which is in the 
Spokane Falls, Washington Land 
District, comprising thirty-two town¬ 
ships and showing all the vacnat land 
in each township and corrected up 
to date will be sent by mail on re¬ 
ceipt of price—$2.50. Address 


subscribing and take advantage 


There’s lots of good Vacant Agricultural Land 
tributary to 


of our clubbing offer on page 8. 


LIND, . 


WASHINGTON 


“PUBLIC LAND” 

124-125 Auditorium Bldg. 

Spokane. Washington. 










































-a~a*a-»a~a~n~a>a~a^n~a~a~a*a*a~a ~a~a-»a-»a~a-»a-»a-»a~a~a-»a~a-«-a-»-a-»-a-»-a-*-a-«-a-«a-»a-*-a-*-as 

This will introduce the Northwestern Busi- I 
jljfeff I If Jklb ness College to the readers of Public Land. The a 
B^^^l|^i)ifri| purpose of this advertisement is to induce the ? 

1 P u ^^ c to investigate the merits of the institution, ? 
’lli 1 for on MERIT we build. f 


Its students hold United States records for 
proficiency in Civil Service and Bookkeeping. 

FIVE COURSES OF STUDY. 

Shorthand and Typewriting, Civil Service, Busi¬ 
ness, Normal, and Telegraphy. 

For detailed information call at the office or 
send for catalogue. 


SPOKANE, WASH. 




a^a^Ka-^a-^-a^a-a-a^a^a-a^a^a^a^a-a^a-a^a-a-aa-a^a^a-a^a^a-a-a^a^a^a-a-^a^a-a-a-a-^a 

Walton & Goodsell, Land Attorneys f 


Leave of absence from your Homestead. Applications to 
amend your Homstead and making of all papers pertaining to 
Public Lands. Contests, protests and other bearings before 
any U. S. Land Office. The Commissioner of the General 
Land Office and the Interior Department. Mining Applica¬ 
tions. Military Bounty Land Warrants. Forest Reserve, 
Soldier’s Additional Homestead, and all other Land Scrips 
bought and sold. We can get your tangles straightened with¬ 
out your coming to the office 


Office Rooms 124-25 Auditorium Block, Phone Main 369 

•, Wasbiington 


a-a-n~a-a-a~a~a~a-*-a~a~a~a~a--a~a--aa~a-a~a~a~a~a-a~a~a-a~n-n-a--n-a-a-a-a 






















PVBLISHED 


WEEKLY. 


OE VOTED TO THOSE 
IHTERE5TE9 IfW 
THE PVBUIC E/\HAS 

THE VfliTED STATE5 




$ 1.50 PER YEAR 

m ADVAHCE. 


e 


Vol. i. No. 17. Spokane, Wash., Dec. 10, 1901. Single Copies, 10 Cents 


CONTENTS. 


Editorial— 

Allotting Indian Lands. 1 

What do You Want ?. 1 

Congressman W. L. Jones. 1 

Read the Message. 1 

Current Topics— 

President Roosevelt’s Message 
Concerning Reclaiming Arid 
Land. 2 

Minerals and Timber— 

New Strike in Cedar Canyon... 3 
The Kintla Lake Oil Distiict... 3 

Silver Creek Basin. 3 

The Douglas, Wyo., Oil Basin.. .3 

Fine Illuminating Oil. 3 

The Salem Falls City and West¬ 
ern Railroad Company. 3 

The Beaumont Oil Fields. 3 

The Steamship Oceano. 3 


New Opportunities— 

Forty Thousand Acres Vacant 
in Whitman County, Wash . . 4 
Seven Million Acres Vacant in 
Glenwood Springs, Colorado 


Land District. 4 

Land Laws and Decisions— 

Mining Claim Improvements Ex¬ 
penditures . 5 

Miscellany— 

Answers to Subscribers. 6 


A Months Business at Spokane . 6 
Repeal of Preemption and Tim¬ 
ber Culture Laws—Modifica¬ 
tion of Homestead and Other 


Laws. 7 

A Strong Movement. 7 

Stevens County Marble Co. 7 


Land Offices and Officers of the 
United States (corrected).... 8 











































ADVERTISEMENTS. 


JOSEPH HUDSON SHORT, 

Attorney at Law 
and 

United States Commissioner, 


VICKSBURG, 


MISSISSIPPI. 


ROLILN J. REEVES, 


United States Commissioner, 


WILBUR, 


WASHINGTON. 


SIDNEY MOOR HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

Is and for District of Washington. 


HOQUIAM, 


WASHINGTON. 


A. E. SWANSON, 
United States Commissioner, 


Notary Public, Loans 
and Collections—Conveyancer 


WILSON CREEK, 


WASHINGTON. 


CUMMING BROS. & POWELL, 
Choice Timber and Homestead Loca¬ 
tions on Government Land. 

TIMBER CRUISED AND ESTIMATES GIVEN 

Fruit, grazing and ranch lands and pine and 
"cedar timber for sale. 


80114 Riverside Ave. 


SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


LAND SCRIP 


-FOR' 


Surveyed or Unsurveyed 

Government Land, lowest prices, 
and quick delivery. We also 
have some choice saw mill loca¬ 
tions, and timber lands in white 
pine belt of Northern Idaho. 

New Northwestern Lumber Co., 

62-63 Jameson Block. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


T. D. HASTIE, 

Attorney at Law, 

U. S. Court Commissioner. 


Homestead Filings and Final Proofs. 
OROFINO, IDAHO. 


ORIN H. WOODS, 
Surveyor and U. S. Commissioner. 

Land Filings and Final Proofs. 
Ditches Surveyed and Recorded. 


BASIN, 


WYOMING. 


JNO. JAS. GRAVES, 


Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, 
Conveyancer, Real Estate, 


MEYERS FALLS, 


WASHINGTON. 


ERED’K J. HOAGLAND, 


Attorney at Law, 


ODESSA, 


WASHINGTON. 


C. H. HOLDEN, 


Attorney at Law. 


Choice timber lands in large or small 
tracts. Timber land cruised and estimates 
given. Government lands located. Fruit 
lands. Ranch land. Grazing land for sale. 
Climate unsurpassed; no cold, no heat, 
lands, ranch land, grazing land for sale, 
no cyclones. Correspondence solicited. 


FLORENCE, OREGON. 


J. W. MARSHALL, 
Attorney at Law. 


Practice in all the Courts. 


107 Auditorium Blk., SPOKANE, WASH. 


HOMES FOR THE HOMESEEKEES 

LANDS FOR THE LANDLESS. 

We have a large list of the choicest 
farming lands in the Big Bend and 
throughout the Inland Empire. Improved 
farms 515 to $20 per acre. This Is the sec¬ 
tion that produces 30,000,000 bushels of 
wheat per annum. Fine fruit; no failures; 
ideal climate. Money placed for non-resi¬ 
dents on first mortgages on first class 
land. Trantum & Schoonover, Odessa,Wn. 


J. B. ZIEGLER, 

Notary Public, Real Estate and Fire 
Insurance Agent. 

IMPROVED FARM LANDS, RAW 
LANDS AND TOWN PROPER¬ 
TIES FOR SALE. 


Prices and Terms will be Furnished 
Promptly. 


ODESSA, 


Office on First Avenue. 

WASHINGTON. 



Quickly secured. OUR FEE DUE WHEN PATENT 
OBTAINED. Send model, sketch or photo, with 
description for free report as to patentability. *8-PAGE 
HAND-BOOK FREE. Contains references and full 
information. WRITE FOR COPT OF OUR SPECIAL 
OFFER. It is the most liberal proposition ever made by 
a patent attorney, and EVERT INVENTOR SHOULD 
READ IT before applying for patent. Address: 

H.ES.WILLSON ICO. 

PATENT LAWYERS, 

L« Droit Bldg., WASHINGTON, D. C. 


. 


Free Homesteads. 


There are over 100 good quarter sections with 
in short distance of the Great Northern Railroad 
that are subject to homestead entry, the same 
kind of land that produced 40 bushels of wheat 
to the acre this year. We have an accurate 
knowledge of these vacant tracts and will locate 
desirable parties on them at very reasonable 
rates. Call on 


H. E. STONE, 

With O. W. Stone Undertaking Co. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON 


Sec our Clubbing Offer 
on Eighth Page. 






















































['ubrTry'of 
I congress. 

B ««v» 

dECl 16 1301 

Copvrioht entry- 

CLASS XXo. No. 
COPY 




PUBLIC LAND. 


i 


mfW/1£/7M£/? /J £//£HOP£ 0££//£/y/!fm 



^ PVBLISHED 
w WEEKLY. 

WALTON S G0005ELL 
PVBLI5HERS. 


BEVOTED TO THOSE 

IMTERESTEO 

THE PVBLIC lambs 

THE VniTED STATES 

LEO WALTON, EDITOR. 5 


$1.50 PER YEAR £ 
in ADVANCE. '■ 

W SINGLE COPIES 
^ TEN CENTS. 


Offices 124-125 Auditorium Bldg., Spokane, Wash. 

ADVERTISING RATES ON APPLICATION. 


Entered at Spokane, Wash., as Second Class Mail Matter. 


Copyrighted 1901 by Walton & Goodsell. 


Vol. 1. Spokane, Wash , Dee. 10,1901. No. 17. 


That movement which is on foot to make an allot¬ 
ment of land to each Indian is acquiring consider¬ 
able momentum and should not be stopped until it is 
finally accomplished. This thing of keeping the In¬ 
dian in idleness and providing for his necessities is a 
plan of action that can find no justification in com¬ 
mon sense; and the strange part of it all is that the 
plan has been followed so long. Report comes from 
South Dakota that the Indians there are preparing to 
resist the plans of the governmet to make them earn 
their own living. The government will do them 
no unkindness by setting apart a particular tract of 
land of their own choosing and requiring them to 
cultivate it for their own support. 


Congress is now in session. Have you expressed 
your desire for the passage of any of the laws relat¬ 
ing to the disposal of the public lands which are of 
vital interest to you? Do you want a glazing land 
law,, or a law that will result in the building of im¬ 
mense reservoirs and storage systems that will en¬ 
able you to irrigate your land and increase its pio- 
ducing capacity ten-fold? If you do, now is the 
time to make your wants known to your congressmen 
and senators/ They are at Washington for the pur¬ 
pose of representing you and are ready and willing 
to do so, but you have a part to perform, and that is 
simlpy to express your desires to them and incidenta 
ly to have your neighbor do likewise. It matter s not 
whether your representative belongs, to your politi¬ 
cal faith or to the other, so let us be only Americans 
for the present, lay all politics aside and work or 


the passage of these measures which mean so much 
for the prosperity of your nation. 


Congressman W. L. Jones of the state of Wash¬ 
ington) has introduced several bills which will not 
only meet the approval of his constituency, but will 
probably receive the hearty support of the western 
delegations. Those concerning the public lands are 
as follows : Providing for the sale of grazing land; 
Restricting lieu selections for land within forest re¬ 
serves to surveyed land; Extending stone law to 
Alaska; Appraisal of improvements of actual settlers 
on land included within forest reserves and allow¬ 
ing the settlers to make selection of other land; Relief 
of bona fide settlers within forest reserve; Free 
homesteads on the north half of the Colville reserva¬ 
tion in the state of Washington; Amending home¬ 
stead and pre-emption laws; Giving secretary of the 
interior power to extend time for submission of proof 
in desert land entries; To pay for the improvements 
of actual settlers within the limits of a forest reserve 
who relinquish -their land to the government; To pre¬ 
vent the establishment of forest reserves except by 
act of congress; Providing for the return of fees and 
purchase money paid for public land where the entries 
were void. These are all live matters and are, of vital 
importance to- the home-maker. 


President Roosevelt’s first message has been given 
to the public. In his recommendation to congress 
to pass a law looking to the conservation of the water 
supply of the United States for irrigating purposes 
he has suggested a means whereby the prosperity of 
the nation can be given a momentum that no artificial 
cause could check or prevent becoming permanent. 
The part referred to is printed under the head of 
‘‘Current Topics,” ort page two, and we invite not 
only a reading of it by every business man who« has 
a care for the permanent and substantial prosperity 
of this nation, but also ask You to lend your influence 
toward securing the passage of a law which means 
so much for the whole United States, Laws are only 
passed and enforced when public opinion is sufficient¬ 
ly strong to make the measure popular. Knowing 
this to be true, will you exercise your influence with 
the voters of your precinct by drawing up a petition 
putting your name at the top and asking every voter 
to sign it, without regard to whether he is a demo¬ 
crat or republican, and then promptly forward it to 
“Public Lad” or to your congressmen. If it is for¬ 
warded to us it will be promptly sent to your -con¬ 
gressional delegation. 








































2 


PUBLIC LAND. 


CURRENT TOPICS. 


RECLAIMING ARID LANDS. 


VAST AREAS OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN 
YET TO BE MADE TILLABLE. 

The reclamation of the unsettled arid public lands 
presents a different problem. Here it is not enough 
to regulate the flow of streams. The object of the 
Government is to dispose of the land to settlers who 
will build homes upon it. To accomplish this object 
water must be brought within their reach. The pio¬ 
neer settlers on the arid public domain chose their 
homes along streams from which they could them¬ 
selves divert the water to reclaim their holdings. 
Such opportunities are practically gone. There re¬ 
main, however, vast areas of public land which can 
be made available for homestead settlement, but only 
by reservoirs and main line canals impracticable for 
private enterprise. These irrigation works should 
be built by the national Government. The lands 
reclaimed by them should be reserved by the Gov¬ 
ernment for actual settlers, and the cost of construc¬ 
tion should so far as possible be repaid by the land 
reclaimed. The distribution of the water, the divis¬ 
ion of the streams among irrigators, should be left 
to the settlers themselves in conformity with state 
laws and without interference with those laws or 
with vested rights. The policy of the national Gov¬ 
ernment should be to aid irrigation in the several 
states and territories in such manner as will enable 
the people in the local communities to help them¬ 
selves, and as will stimulate needed reforms in the 
state laws and regulations governing irrigation. 

The reclamation and settlement of the arid lands 
will enrich every portion of our country, just as 
the settlement of the Ohio and Mississippi valleys 
brought prosperity to the Atlantic states. The in¬ 
creased demand for manufactured articles will stim¬ 
ulate industrial production, while wider home mar¬ 
kets and the trade of Asia will consume the larger 
food supplies and effectually prevent western com¬ 
petition with eastern agriculture. Indeed, the prod¬ 
ucts of irrigation will be consumed chiefly in up¬ 
building local centers of mining and other indus¬ 
tries, which would otherwise not come into existence 
at all. Our people as a whole will profit, for suc¬ 
cessful home making is but another name for the 
upbuilding of the nation. 

FOUNDATION LAID. 

The necessary foundation has already been laid 


for the inauguration of the policy just described. 
It would be unwise to begin by doing too much, for a 
great deal will doubtless be learned, both as to what 
can and what can not be safely attempted, by the 
early efforts, which must of necessity be partly ex¬ 
perimental in character. At the very beginning the 
Government should make clear, beyond shadow of 
doubt, its intention to pursue this policy on lines of 
the broadest public interest. No reservoir or canal 
should ever be built to satisfy selfish personal or 
local interest; but only in accordance with the advice 
of trained experts, after long investigation has shown 
the. locality where all the conditions combine to make 
the work most needed and fraught with the greatest 
usefulness to the community as a whole. There 
should be no extravagance, and the believers in the 
need of irrigation will most benefit their cause by 
seeing to it that it is free from the least taint of ex¬ 
cessive or reckless expenditure of the public moneys. 
NEW LAWS NECESSARY. 

Whatever the nation does for the extension of 
irrigation should harmonize with and tend to im¬ 
prove the condition of those now living on irrigated 
land. We are not at the starting point of this devel¬ 
opment. Over two hundred millions of private cap¬ 
ital has already been expended in the construction 
of irrigation works, and many million acres of arid 
land reclaimed. A high degree of enterprise and 
ability has been shown in the work itself, but as 
much can not be said in reference- to the laws relat¬ 
ing thereto. The security and value of the homes 
created depend largely on the stability of titles to 
water, but the majority of these rest on the uncertain 
foundation of court decisions rendered in ordinary 
suits at law. With a few creditable exceptions, the 
arid states have failed to provide for the certain and 
just division of streams in times of scarcity. Lax 
and uncertain laws have made it possible to estab¬ 
lish rights to water in excess of actual uses or neces¬ 
sities, and many streams have already passed into 
private ownership, or a control equivalent to owner¬ 
ship. 

Whoever controls a stream practically controls the 
land it renders productive, and the doctrine of pri¬ 
vate ownership of water apart from land can not 
prevail without causing enduring wrong. The recog- 
'liition of such ownership, which has been permitted 
to grow up in the arid regions, should give way to 
a more enlightened and larger recognition of the 
rights of the public in the control and disposal of the 

(Continued on Page ./.) 






PUBLIC LAND. 


3 


MINERALS AND TIMBER. 


NEW STRIKE IN CEDAR CANYON. 

The Providence struck into a fine body of ore last 
week that brought joy to the hearts of the operators. 
The work dyring most of the past season has largely 
been with a view to development. A fine body of ore 
has now been opened up and is being mined and 
placed in the bins preparatory to shipment as soon 
as the roads freeze up so that hauling can be done 
with a profit. 

The Deer Trail' No. 2 is being fitted up with a 
twenty horse-power boiler, hoist and pump. There 
are about thirty men working on their four-foot ledge 
and are shipping about five cars of ore each month. 

The Silver Seal is working a full force of men 
and are rapidly taking out the ore from the rich strike 
which they made last month. 

Owing to the present condition of the roads, no 
shipments are being made from this mine at the pres¬ 
ent time, but the ore is being sacked and will be 
ready for heavy shipments as soon as a freeze comes. 


The Kintla Lake oil district in Flathead and Teton 
counties, Montana, is receiving much consideration 
at the present time. Strong companies have been 
formed for the development of the oil properties of 
that section and notwithstanding the fact that it is 
40 miles from the railroad (Belton on the Great 
Northern being the nearest point). A Butte corn- 
pay has completed a wagon road to Kintla lake and 
now have their rig at work on the land. 

Al British company has acquired a large tract of 
land north of the international boundary line and it 
is thought that the indications are more favorable to 
gushers at shallow depths than on the American side, 
but it is conceded by all parties that the Kintla Lake 
region is a very promising one at the present time. 


Silver Creek Basin, in Josephine county, Oregon, 
is being opened up. The difficulty with this great 
placer deposit has been the inability to obtain a dump. 
This has been overcome by 'running a tunnel through 
the rim of the basin. The tunnel is about 100 feet 
lcng and four by seven feet. A fine dump has been 
obtained in this way and, as there is an abundance 
of water for sluicing, there seems to be no reason 
why the rich ground in this basin should not yield 
large quantities of gold in the near future. 

The state land board of Idaho has granted a char¬ 


ter for the improvement of the St. Joe and St. Mary’s 
river and Santa creek. It is estimated that the cost 
of the improvemets will amount to $40,000 and the 
company will be permitted to charge a toll of 25 cents 
per thousand feet for driving privileges. This will 
open up some magnificent belts of white pine on the 
headwaters of the St. Mary’s in Shoshone county, 
Idaho. 


The Douglas (Wyoming) oil basin is a busy dis¬ 
trict at the present time. About 500,000 acres have 
been appropriated under the placer mining laws and 
four rigs are at work, while three more are on the 
way. Nearly 200 townships have been withdrawn 
from appropriation under the general land laws, in 
order to allow a thorough exploration of the district 
for its oil values. 


Fine illuminating oil has been struck near Fossil, 
Wyo., on the Oregon Short Line railroad. There is 
a stampede of the older operators from other states 
to that section in the hope of getting possession of 
lands that promise to be valuable by reason of the 
high quality of oil. 


The Salem, Falls City & Western Railroad Com¬ 
pany was organized last week. This company pro¬ 
poses to build seventy-five miles of broad gauge rail¬ 
road from Salem, in Marion county, to the mouth of 
the Siletz river in Lincoln county. The chief purpose 
is to make an outlet for the immense tracts of timber 
through which it will be built. 


The Beaumont oil wells of Texas now number 
seventy and are all on less than 160 acres; are pro¬ 
ducing an estimated flow of 1,500,000 gallons per 
day. Eight hundred barrels is claimed to be the aver¬ 
age daily shipment. The first gusher in these fields 
is not a year old, yet over two millions of dollars 
have been spent in development and the basis for 
many fortunes have been laid on Spindleton Hill. 


The Steamship Oceano will leave Seattle for the 
Philippine Islands in a few days with a $200,000 
cargo, chiefly hay and oats, nearly all of which was 
produced in the state of Washington. This cargo 
belongs to the government and is taken there for the 
purpose of supplying the army. 


Heavy sales of timber land at $12 per acre were 
made by the settlers near Brinnon, Wash., last week, 




















4 


PUBLIC LAND. 


NEW OPPORTUNITIES. 


FORTY THOUSAND ACRES VACANT IN 
WHITMAN COUNTY, WASHINGTON. 

Whtiman county, Washington, which is in the 
famous “Palouse” wheat and fruit producing belt of 
Washington, still has about 40,000 acres of vacant 
government land that can be acquired under the gen¬ 
eral land laws of the United States. About one- 
fourth of this amount is in the Spokane Falls land 
district and the balance in the Walla Walla district. 
The choicest claims have been taken long ago, but 
there are still a great number of vacant “quarters” 
out of which one can obtain as much as eighty and 
100 acres of good tillable land that will produce as 
well as the best. That part which is vacant in the 
Spokane district in the western part of the county 
along the Adams county line and chiefly in town¬ 
ships 17, 18 and 20, north of range 39, east. The 
largest part of the vacant land of this county in the 
Walla Walla district is in the western and southern 
parts and especailly along the Snake river. 


SEVEN MILLION ACRES VACANT IN GLEN- 
WOOD SPRINGS (COLO.) LAND 
DISTRICT. 

Register John F. Squire and Receiver James W. 
Ross of the Garfield land district, with their office 
at Gleenwood Springs, Colo., have issued a neat little 
booklet descriptive of the opportunities afforded by 
their district. They have jurisdiction over the pub¬ 
lic lands in Routt, Rio Blanco, Garfield and portions 
of Mesa, Gunnison, Pitkin, Eagle and Larimer coun¬ 
ties. Within these counties may be found lands of 
the various classes which are susceptible of entry 
under the different laws of the United States, i. e., 
farming, grazing, stone, timber, asphalt, marble, 
onyx, kaolin, iron and petroleum oil lands. 

The best farming and meadow lands are to be 
found along the Grand and White rivers. 

Large deposits of asphalt are found in the western 
part of Rio Blanco county. Routt county is rich in 
gold, silver, coal, onyx, timber, petroleum, grazing 
and agricultural lands if irrigation is resorted to. 

Besides the mineral laws and the use of the differ¬ 
ent kinds of scrip, these lands can be acquired under 
the homestead, pre-emption or desert land laws, as 
the case may be. The pre-emption law will only ap ¬ 
ply to the lands within the old Ute Indian reserva¬ 
tion. 


{Continuedfrom Page 2.) 

public water supplies. Laws founded upon condi¬ 
tions obtaining in humid regions, where water is too 
abundant to justify hoarding it, have no proper ap¬ 
plication in a dry country. 

In the arid states the only right to water which 
should be recognized is that of use. In irrigation 
this right should attach to the land reclaimed and be 
inseparable therefrom. Granting perpetual water 
rights to others than users, without compensation to 
the public, is open to all the objections which apply 
to giving away perpetual franchises to the public 
utilities of cities. A few of the western states have 
already recognized this, and have incorporated in 
their constitutions the doctrine of perpetual state 
ownership of water. 

states must WAKE UP. 

The benefits which have followed the unaided de¬ 
velopment of the past justify the.nation’s aid and co¬ 
operation in! thp more difficult and important work 
yet to be accomplished. Laws so vitally affecting 
homes as those which control the water supply will 
only be effective when they have the sanction of the 
irrigators; reforms can only be final and satisfactory 
when they come through the enlightenment of the 
people most concerned. The larger development 
which national aid insures should, however, awaken 
in every arid state the determination to make its irri¬ 
gation system equal in justice and effectiveness to that 
of any country in the civilized world. Nothing could 
be more unwise than for isolated communities to con¬ 
tinue to learn everything experimentally, instead of 
profiting by what is already known elsewhere. We 
are dealing with a new and momentous question in 
the pregnant years while institutions are forming, 
and what we do will affect not only the present but 
future generations. Our aim should be not simply 
to reclaim the largest area of land and provide home’s 
for the largest number of people, but to create for 
this new industry the best possible social and indus¬ 
trial conditions; and this requires that we not only 
understand the existing situation, but avail ourselves 
of the best experience of the time in the solution of 
its problems. A careful study should be ma.de, both 
by the nation and' the states, of the irrigation laws 
and conditions here and abroad. Ultimately it will 
probably be necessary for the nation to co-operate 
with the several arid states in proportion as those 
states by their legislation and administration show 
themselves fit to receive it. 










PUBLIC LAND. 


LAND LAWS AND DECISIONS. 

MINING 'CLAIM IMPROVEMENTS EXPENDITURES. 

Highland Marie and Manilla Lode Mining Claims. 

Labor or improvement to be 'Credited toward meeting 
the requirements of the statute as to expenditure on a min¬ 
ing claim must actually promote or directly tend to pro¬ 
mote the extraction of mineral from the land, or forward 
or facilitate the development of the! claim as a mine or 
mining claim, or be necessary for its care or the protection 
of the mining works thereon or pertaining thereto. 

Claimant’s quartz mill, situated on one of his claims 
in another group, even if constructed by him for the ex¬ 
press purpose of crushing ores from the claims embraced 
in this entry, could not be accepted as an improvement 
made for the benefit of those claims or either of them, 
within the meaning and intent of the statute. 

SECRETARY HITCHCOCK TO THE COMMISSIONER OF 
THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE, JULY 17, 1901. 

(W. V. D.) (E. B., Jr.) 

The decisions of your office dated January 28 and Mair-ch 
18, 1901, the latter on review, in mineral entry No. 3896, 
made August 28, 1900, by Louis S. McLure for the High¬ 
land Marie and Manilla lide mining claims, surveys Nos. 
5770 and 5771, Helena (Mont.) land district, hold that no 
part of the value of a certain ten-stamp quartz mill, valued 
'at $4000, and credited by the surveyor general to the said 
claims respectively, as expenditure for the benefit thereof, 
under Section 2325 of the Revised Statutes, can be accepted 
as such expenditure; and there not being other labor or 
improvements credited to the claims of sufficient value to 
satisfy the statute, the said decisions also, in effect, hold 
the entry for conciliation on that account. 

(The reasons given by your office for refusing to accept 
any part of the value of such mill toward meeting the re¬ 
quirements of the statute as to expenditures are thus stated 
in said decision of March 18, 1901, on review: 

It has been held by the Department that improvements 
made outside of the boundaries of a mining claim may be 
accepted as sufficient if shown to aid in the extraction of 
mineral therefrom (6 L. D., 220; 17 L. D., 190), but I am 
of the opinion that the mill sought to be applied in this 
•case does not fall within the rule therein announced. It is 
situated more than half 'a mile from the claim, upon another 
group of lode claims owned by applicant, and is, no doubt, 
used for the milling of ores from all the 1 claims owned by 
applicant in the vicinity. Furthermore, while a mill is of 
indirect benefit tio a lode claim, in that it is of use in ex¬ 
tracting the precious meta Is from the ores after same 
have been mined, yet it is of no direct benefit or aid in tho 
actual development of the claim. 

The claimant has appealed from the decision of your 
office, insisting that the said mill is “a necessary part of 
and used in connection with the 'working and improvement 
of said claims and credited thereto, and as such Is an im¬ 
provement inuring to the benefit of each of the claims within 
the meaning of the statute. 

The said claims, together with the Mol lie Darling lode 
mining claim, embraced in mineral entry No. 3895, also 
made by McLure, form a small group of contiguous claims. 
The said mill, which is a mill for crushing ores, is situated 
on the Venus lode mining claim, Which its one of eleven 


5 


other contiguous claims embraced in mineral entry No. 
3894, also made by MeLulre. In addition to these entries 
McLure has also made mineral entry No. 3897 for six other 
contiguous claims, and mineral entry No. 4005 for a single 
claim, the Saturn placer. These claims are apparently all 
owned by said McLure, the three claims in entry No. 3896 
being in one 'body or contiguous group, and the eighteen 
other claims in another body or such group. The said mill 
is over 3300 feet southward from the southerly end of the 
Manilla claim, Which is the nearest thereto of the first 
group. It does not appear when or by whom the mill was 
constructed, or that it has ever been used for crushing any 
ore from the Highland Marie or the Manilla claim, or, in¬ 
deed, whether it has ever been operated at all. 

But 'even if it had been so used or had been constructed 
or purchased by the applicant for patent for the express 
purpose of crushing ores from the claims embraced in the 
entry here under consideration, it is not believed that it 
•could be accepted as an improvement made for the benefit of 
those claims, or either of them, within the meaning and 
intent of the statute. The Department is not aware of any 
instance in which such a mill so situated has ever been 
held, either by the Land Department or by the courts, to be 
properly credited as an improvement for the benefit of a 
mining claim in contemplation of the mining laws. Under 
the decisions of the courts and the Land Department labor 
or improvements to be so credited must actually promote 
or directly tend to promote the extraction of mineral from 
the land or forward or facilitate the development of the 
claim as a mine or mining claim, or be necessary for its 
care or the protection of the mining works thereon, or per¬ 
taining thereto. (Smelting Co. v. Kemp, 104 U. S., 636, 
655; Book v. Justice M. Co., 58 Fed. Rep., 106, 117; U. S. V. 
Iron Silver Mining Co., 24 Fed. Rep., 568; Lockhart v. 
Rollins (Idaho), 21 Pac. Rep., 413; Doherty v. Morris 
(Colo.), 28 Pac. Rep., 85; Copper Glance Lode, 29 L. D., 
542; and Zephyr and other Lode Mining Claims, 30 L. D., 
510, 513.) 

There is a sense, of course, in which the ownership of a 
mill in the vicinity of a mine, for crushing or reducing 
ores, by one who is also the owner of the mine, may pro¬ 
mote the development of the mine, but iso also doubtless, 
to some extent, might the development of the mine be 
hastened or promoted by the ownership or interest of such 
mine owner in a stock or mining implements or machinery 
kept in a general supply store in the neighborhood, or by 
his ownership of or interest in a tramway or railway built 
to bring In supplies and carry out mining products to and 
from the nearest mining camp. But in all these instances 
the connection between the ownership or interest in the 
thing mentioned and the development of the claim or the 
extraction of ore therefrom is too remote to justify holding 
such thing to be an improvement upon or for the benefit 
of the claim, or the crediting of the value of any part' 
thereof toward the required expenditure. 

It iiS not deemed necessary nor desirable that the sub¬ 
ject be further pursued at this time', nor to undertake to 
state herein in detail iwhat particular labor, buildings, ex¬ 
cavations, etc., may or may not be accepted as meeting the 
requirements of the mining laws upon the point under 
consideration. Indeed, subject to the general rule above 

( Continued on Page 7.) 











6 


PUBLIC LAND. 


MISCELLANY. 


ANSWERS TO SUBSCRIBERS. 

Under this head complete answers will be given 
to subscribers’ questions concerning the public land 
of the United States. Name and address of each 
subscriber must be given' with letter asking the 
question. 

L. R., Springdale, Wash.: I am a member of a 
mining company owning several claims which are 
partly developed. We have a quartz mill on one 
claim which cost more than the required amount of 
improvements on the entire group of claims in an 
application for patent. Can this be considered as 
an expenditure upon one of the claims which does 
not have very much work done upon it. 

Answer: No. Secretary Hitchcock in the recent 
case of the “Highland Marie and Manilla Lode Min¬ 
ing Claims” has decided that credit for a mill will 
not be allowed in cases similar to the one you sug¬ 
gest. See “Land Laws and Decisions,” page 5. 


L. A. B., Anaconda, Mont.: Myself and associ¬ 
ates have owned and worked a lode mine for a num¬ 
ber of years; there has been a large number of 
changes in the ownership of this mine, many of them 
have been done by a simple yielding of possession, 
none of the original owners are now represented in 
it and, indeed, it is impossible to furnish record evi¬ 
dence of the* chain of title. We now want to ac¬ 
quire Government patent to the claim. Is there any 
way of connecting ourselves with our possession 
sufficient to satisfy the Department ? 

■ Answer: Yes, Congress anticipated just this con¬ 
dition of affairs and as a result we have Section 2332 
of the Revised Statutes. See paragraphs 74, 75, 76 
and 77 of the Regulations under that section. See 
“Land Laws and Decisions,” page 5 of December 3. 

R. H. S., Aberdeen, Wash.: Do you know of any 
good timber land yet open to entry in California? 
Answer: Yes, there is an abundance of fine timber 
in the state. Look up Siskiyou or Modoc counties 
in the northern part of the state. 


C. A. M., Brooklyn, N. Y.: Is there land in the 
United States at the present time that is subject to the 
pre-emption law, except in the state of Missouri? 
Answer: Yes, the land in the old Ute Indian reserva¬ 
tion in the state of Colorado is subject to the pre¬ 


emption laws. This land is. in Garfield, Rio Blanco, 
Mesa, Delta, Pitkin and Eagle counties. See Glen- 
wood Springs District under “New Opportunities.” 


Mrs. R. F. G., Sand Point, Idaho: Myself and 
husband came to this country several years ago. He- 
became a naturalized citizen of the United States and 
made a homestead entry, but died before making final 
proof. I have never taken out any citizenship papers. 
Can I do so now in order to make final proof on my 
husband’s homestead ? We lived on the land together 
up to the time of his death and I have lived there 
ever since. Answer: You became a citizen by virtue 
of your husband’s naturalization and the patent will 
issue to you, but you must furnish a copy of his cer¬ 
tificate of citizenship at the time of final proof. 


D. E., Fruitland, Wash.: How long after the 
making of a fraudulent proof under the homestead 
and pre-emption laws and the transfer of the property 
to third parties can the entry be attacked by a con¬ 
test, and what would it cost ? Answer: The depart¬ 
ment has authority for setting a patent aside for two 
years after the date of its issue, providing the ques¬ 
tion of fraud is established by a preponderance of the 
evidence. The cost of the action would depend en¬ 
tirely upon the circumstances attending it. The chief 
expense, aside from the taking of the testimony, 
which would be charged for at the rate of 22 1-2 
cets per hundred words, would probably be your at¬ 
torney’s fee. 


The November report of the Lewiston (Idaho) 
land office showed that there were fifty-eight original 
and forty-three final homestead entries and nineteen 
cash entries and total receipts, $7800. 


'Chrysolite has been discovered in large quantities 
in Klickitat county, Washington. This will material¬ 
ly assist the new glass industry that is now coming 
into prominence in Western Washington. 


A MONTH’S BUSINESS AT SPOKANE 

FALLS, WASH. __ 

Register Ludden’s report of the business done at 
the Spokane Falls office during the past month 
shows that there were 108 homestead applications 
embracing 15,762.85 acres. Eighteen final proofs, 
2,558.50 acres. One soldier’s declaratory state¬ 
ment, one final desert entry, four timber and stone 
entries and three mining applications. 






















PUBLIC LAND. 


7 


( Continued from Page 5.) 

laid down, the determination in each case must depend 
upon the facts of that case. 

The decision of your office is affirmed in accordance with 
the views herein expressed. The entry must be caceled. 

It will not he necessary, however, for the claimant to 
file a new application for patent or to furnish new proofs 
upon ay point, except to give new notice of the application 
hy publication and posting and to file the necessary proofs 
thereof, and the certificate of the surveyor-general as to ex¬ 
penditure, if the proofs noiw on file are otherwise sufficient, 
and if, as would seem from the affidavit of claimant’© at¬ 
torney in fact to be the case, due expenditure as to both 
claims has now been made.” 


REPEAL OF PREEMPTION AND TIMBER 
CULTURE LAWS—MODIFICATION OF 
HOMESTEAD AND OTHER LAWS. 

An act to repeal timber-culture laws, and for other 
purposes. 

. .Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Repre¬ 
sentatives of the United States of America in Con¬ 
gress Assembled, That an act entitled “An act to 
amend an act entitled ‘An act to encourage the 
growth of timber on the western prairies/ approved 
June 14, 1878, and all laws supplementary thereto 
or amendatory thereof, be, and the same are hereby 
repealed : Provided, That this repeal shall not affect 
any valid rights heretofore accrued or accruing un¬ 
der said laws, but all bona fide claims lawfully initi¬ 
ated before the passage of this act may be perfected 
upon due compliance with law, in the same manner, 
upon the same terms and conditions, and subject to 
the same limitations, forfeitures, and contests as if 
-this act had not been passed: And Provided Fur¬ 
ther, That the following words of the last clause of 
Section 2 of said act, namely, “That not less than 
2700 trees were planted on each acre, are hereby 
repealed: And Provided Further, That in computing 
the period of cultivation the time shall run from the 
date of the entry, if the necessary acts of cultivation 
were performed within the proper time: And Pi 0- 
vided Further, That the preparation of the land and 
the planting of the trees shall be construed as acts 
of cultivation, and the time authorized to be so em¬ 
ployed and actually employed shall be computed as 
a part of the eight years of cultivation required by 
statute: Provided, That any person who has made 
entry of any public lands of the United States under 
the timber-culture laws, and who has for a period ot 
four years in good faith complied with the provisions 
of said laws and who is an actual bona fide resident 
of the State or Territory in which said land is located 


shall be entitled to make final proof thereto, and ac¬ 
quire title to the same, by the payment of $1.25 per 
acre for such tract, under such rules and regulations 
as shall be prescribed by the Secretary of the In¬ 
terior, and registers and receivers shall be allowed 
the same fees and compensation for final proofs in 
timber-culture entries as is now allowed by law in 
homestead entries: And Provided Further, That no 
land acquired under the provisions of this act shall 
in any event become liable to the satisfaction of any 
debt or debts contracted prior to the issuing to the 
final certificate therefor.” 


A STRONG MOVEMENT on the part of 
large holders of cheap lands obtained 
under congressional grants to have Cur¬ 
ry and Josephine Counties, Oregon, in¬ 
cluded within the limits of a National Forest Re¬ 
serve. The settlers in the districts affected have 
been greatly concerned about the matter and in turn 
have done everything possible with them to prevent 
the creation of the reserve. The setlerst claim that a 
large per cent of the land owned by the corporations 
is rough and unfit for cultivation and that their pur¬ 
pose in trying to secure the establishment of the 
reserve is to allow them to' sell the exchange privi¬ 
leges in the form of scrip. The settlers have taken 
up the matter with their fellow citizen Binger 
Hermann, Commissioner of the General Land Office, 
who has assured them through a number of their 
prominent men that he will come to their relief and 
prevent this injustice being perpetrated upon them. 
This is in harmony with the policy of his adminis¬ 
tration of the affairs of the General Land Office as 
outlined in his annual report, and there seems little 
doubt but that the settlers in these counties have a 
willing and powerful “friend at court” in the person 
of Mr. Hermann. 


ANNIE E. SNOW has applied for the ap¬ 
pointment of a receiver for the Wig¬ 
gins Oil and Fuel Company, of Sher¬ 
man, Texas. Seventy-two companies are in¬ 
volved, which own property valued at $50,000,000. 
Plaintiff claims that she has a life interest in 500 
acres of oil land in Jefferson County which is esti¬ 
mated to be worth from $1000 to $100,000 an acre. 


The Stevens County Marble Company uncovered 
a ledge of fine onyx on their property near Valley, 
Wash. 










8 


PUBLIC LAND 


Land Offices and Officers of the United States. 


E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior Department, Washington, D, C. 
Binger Hermann, Commissioner General Land Office, Washington, D. C. 


Alabama— 

Huntsville. 

Montgomery. 

Alaska— 

Rampart. 

Sitka. 

St. Michael. 

Arizona— 

Prescott. 

Tucson. 

Arkansas— 

Camden. 

Dardanelle. 

Harrison. 

Little Rock. 

California— 

Eureka. 

Independence. 

Los Angeles. 

Marysville. 

Redding. 

Sacraemnto. 

San Francisco ... 

Stockton. 

Susanville. 

Visalia. 

Colorado— 

Akron. 

Del Norte. 

Denver. 

Durango. 

Gunnison. 

Glenwood Springs 

Hugo. 

Leadville. 

Larnar. 

Montrose. 

Pueblo. 

Sterling. 

Florida— 

Gainesville. 

Idaho— 

Blackfoot. 

Boise. 

Coeur d’Alene.... 

Hailey. 

Lewiston. 

Iowa— 

Des Moines. 

Kansas— 

Colby. 

Dodge City. 

Topeka. 

Wakeeny. 

Louisiana— 

Natchitoches. 

New Orleans. 

Michigan— 

Marquette.• • 

Minnesota— 

Crookston. 

Duluth. 

Marshall. 

St. Cloud. 

Mississippi— 

Jackson. 

Missouri— 

Boonville. 

Ironton. 

Springfield. 

Montana— 
Bozeman. 


REGISTER. 

John A. Steele_ 

Robert Barker_ 


P. M. Nullen. 

John W. Dudley. 

Franklin Moses. 

Fredrick A. Tritle, Jr.. 
Milton R. Moore. 

Charles T. Duke. 

Joseph H. Battenfield.. 
John I. Worthington... 
Harry H. Myers. 

Henry A. Olesten. 

Stafford W. Austin... 
Angus J. Crookshank. 

Frank W. Johnson- 

Frank M. Swasey. 

Thomas Fraser. 

.Aaron B. Hunt. 

John D. Maxey. 

Thomas S. Roseberry. 
Geo. W. Stewart. 

Peter Campbell. 

James H. Baxter. 

Charles D. Ford. 

Fredrick C. Perkins... 

Melvin A. Deering. 

John F. Squire. 

Lon E. Foote. 

Wat T. Beall. 

Willia mA. Merrill. 

James A. Layton. 

John R. Gordon. 

David C. Fleming. 

Walter G. Robinson... 

Lorenzo R- Thomas... 

James King. 

David H. Budlong- 

Neal J. Sharp. 

John B. West. 

Thornton S. Howard.. 

Kleber E. Wilcockson. 

Thomas A. Scates. 

George W. Fisher. 

Isaac T. Purcell. 

J. Ernest Breda. 

Walter L. Cohen. 

Thomas Scadden. 

Sylvester Peterson.... 
William E. Culkin.... 

Cyrus P. Shepard. 

Myron D. Taylor. 

James Hill. 

William H. Martin — 

George Steel. 

Martin V. Gideon. 

Albert L. Love. 


RECEIVER. 
Herschel V. Cashin. 
John C. Leftwich. 

Wm. R. Edwards. 
Albert J. Apperson. 
Albert E. Rose. 

John C. Martin. 

John H. Bauman. 

Edward A. Shicker. 
John G. Chitwood. 
Felix S. Baker. 

John E. Bush. 

James F. Thompson. 
Frank E. Densmore. 
Arthur W. Kinney. 
Henry Malloch. 

Lloyd L. Carter. 
William A. Newcum 
Sargent S. Mortin. 
George A. McKenzie. 
Alfred H. Taylor. 
Othello Scribner. 

George W. Warner. 
Peter F. Barclay. 
Benjaihin K Kimberly 
Daniel L. Sheets. 

Miss Martha C. Brown 
James W. Ross. 

John P. Dickinson. 
Fred Butler. 

C. Frost Liggett. 

John E. Pelton. 

John J. Lambert. 
Charles B. Timberlake 

Henry S. Chubb. 

George B. Rogers. 
Edward E. Garrett. 
Charles D. Warner. 
Wm. A. Hodgman. 
Charles H. Garby. 

Stephen J. Loughran. 

Cyrus Anderson. 

Lewis J. Pettijohn. 
Rudolph B. Welch. 
Frank W. King 

Charles J. Greene. 
Charles P. Johnston. 

John Jones. 

August F. George. 

Jay M. Smith. 
Christopher F. Case. 
Alva Eastman. 

George E. Matthews. 

Herman Schmidt. 

C. Sanford Russell. 
George A. Ramsey. 

Andrew J. Edsall. 


Helena. 

Kalispell. 

Lewistown. 

Miles City. 

Missoula. 

Nebraska— 

Alliance. 

Broken Bow. 

Lincoln. 

McCook. 

North Platte. 

O’Neill. 

Sidney. 

Valentine. 

Nevada— 

Carson City. 

New Mexico— 

Clayton. 

Las Cruces. 

Roswell. 

Santa Fe. 

North Dakota— 

Bismarck. 

Devil’s Lake. 

Fargo. 

Grand Foras. 

Minot..... 

Oklahoma— 

Alva. 

♦El Reno. 

Enid. 

Guthrie. 

Kingfisher. 

♦Lawton. 

Mangum. 

Oklahoma. 

Perry.. 

Woodward. 

Oregon— 

Burns. 

La Grande. 

Lakeview. 

Oregon City. 

Roseburg. 

The Dalles. 

South Dakota— 

Aberdeen. 

Chamberlain. 

Huron. 

Mitchell. 

Pierre. 

Rapid City. 

Watertown. 

Utah- 

Salt Lake City... 

Washington- 
North Yakima.... 

Olympia. 

Seattle. 

Spokane. 

Vancouver. 

Walla Walla. 

Waterville. 

Wisconsin— 

Ashland. 

Eau Claire. 

Wausau. 

Wyoming— 

Buffalo. 

Cheyenne. 

Evanston. 

Douglas. 

Lander. 

Sundance. 


George D. Greene. 

Frank H. Nash. 

Edward Brassey. 

Samuel Gordon. 

Elmer E. Hershey. 

Fred M. Dorrington... 

James Whitehead. 

Joseph W. Johnson— 
Francis M. Rathbun.. 

George E. French. 

Stephen J. Weekes_ 

Robley D. Harris. 

James C. Pettijohn — 

Oliver H. Gallup. 

Edward W. Fox. 

Emil Solignac. 

Howard Leland. 

Manuel R. Otero. 

Alex. C. McGillivray.. 

Ole Serumgard. 

Charles N. Valentine. 

Ernest H. Kent. 

Thomas E. Olsgard... 

Robert A. Cameron... 


James B. Cullison. 

John Boles. 

Emory D. Brownlee.. 
Henry D. MhNight. 

John A. Trotter. 

Seymour S. Price. 

Alfred H. Boles. 

Frank D. Healy. 

George W. Hayes. 

Edward W. Bartlett... 

Eldon M. Brattain. 

Charles B. Moores. 

Joseph T. Bridges. 

Jay P. Lucas. 

John S. Vetter. 

William V. Lucas. 

Charles A. Blake. 

George E. Foster. 

Albert Wheelon. 

George P. Bennett — 
Lee Stover. 

Frank D. Hobbs. 

Walter J. Reed. 

Frank G. Deckebach. 
Edward P. Tremper.. 

William H. Ludden_ 

William R. Dunbar... 

John M. Hill. 

Matthew B. Malloy_ 

August Doenitz. 

Alfred Cypreansen.... 
John W. Miller. 

Prince A. Gatchell — 
William E. Chaplin... 

Charles Kingston. 

Albert D. Chamberlain. 

William T. Adams_ 

Alpha E. Hoyt. 


John Horsky. 

William C. Whipps. 
Louis W. Eldridge. 
James M. Rhoades. 
William O. Ranft. 

William R. Akers. 
Frank H. Young. 
Thomas P. Kennard. 
Joel A. Piper. 

Frank Bacon. 

D. Clem Denver. 

James L.McIntosh, Jr 
Albert L. Towle. 

David H. Hall. 

Albert W. Thompson. 
Henry D. Bowman. 
David L. Geyer. 
Edward F. Hobart. 

John Satterlund. 
Henry E. Baird. 
DeWitt C. Tufts. 
Christian L. Lindstrom 
Abner . Hanscom. 

William J. French. 


David W. Eastman. 
Fredrick E. McKinley. 
Jacob V. Admire. 

Tames D. Maguire. 

John A. Oliphant. 
Anton H. Classen. 

Joel R. Scott. 

John W. Miller. 

Charles Newell. 
Samuel O. Swackhamer 
Harry Bailey. 

William Galloway. 
James H. Booth. 

Otis Patterson. 

Frank A. Brown. 
Charles L. Brockway. 
John Westdahl. 
Thomas C. Burns. 
Henry E. Cutting. 
William S. Warner. 
George W. Case. 

George A. Smith. 

Miles Cannon. 

John O’B. Scobey. 
Columbus T. Tyler. 
Samuel A. Wells. 

Lynn B. Clough. 
Thomas Mosgrove. 
Lucien E. Kellog. 

Duporta! G. Sampson 
Alexander Meggett. 
Henry G. McCrossen. 

Ephraim H. Smock. 
Edward A. Slack. 
Frank M. Foote. 
Merris C. Barrow. 

Mrs. Minnie Williams. 
Samuel A. Young. 


* Officers that have just been established to accomodate the business 
from the Kiowa and Comanche reservations. 


new Opportunities for Vou and 
UMvU your friends. * « « * « 

For a limited time “PUBLIC LAND” will be sent to five 
different addresses when sent in by one person for five dollars. 
Each issue of “PUBLIC LAND” will contain more of value 
to the subscriber interested in public land matters than the full 
price of the year’s subscription. Some will receive a hundred 
times more. Get your friends to subscribe now. Send all re¬ 
mittances whenever possible by Post Office or Express Money 
Order, made payable to “PUBLIC LAND.” 

Office 124-25 Auditorium Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


400 HOMESTEAD CLAIMS IN ADAMS 
COUNTY, STATE OF WASHINGTON. 

We have a Blue Print Map showing the exact 
location of all the vacant land in that part of Adams 
county, state of Washington, that is within the Spo¬ 
kane Falls district, which is corrected up to date, 
that we will give to every club raiser who sends us 
in ten paid yearly subscribers at one dollar each. The 
regular price of the map is $2.50. 














































































































































































































ADVERTISEMENTS. 




100,000 Acres Vacant Govern¬ 
ment Land in Lincoln County 
Washington. 

Get a “PUBLIC LAND ” blue print 
map of Lincoln County, Washington. It 
shows you the exact description of over 

100,000 ACRES OF VA¬ 
CANT GOVERNMENT 

Land in the famous “Big Bend” country. 
It is corrected up to date of purchase, is 
made, from the Land Office records, is 
absolutely correct and shows all the va¬ 
cant land in Lincoln County. Sent by 
mail on receipt of $2.50, address 


C < 


PUBLIC LAND” 

124-125 Auditorium Bldg. 
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 



ATTEND THE 

Puget Sound Business College 

for a practical, up-to-date business course. 
Bookkeeping, penmanship, stenography 
and typewriting. Send ten cents for sam¬ 
ple dozen card3 and how you can earn 
some money during spare time. Address 
D. M. KNAUF, Principal, 902 Yakima ave., 
Tacoma, Wash. 

0. W. KENNEDY, 

Livery Stables, 

Gentle Driving Horses. Good Drivers to 
show you the land you want to see. 
Everything first class. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 

DOTJGLAS HOTEL, 
William Newlove, Prop., 

AMERICAN PLAN. 

$1.00 and $1.50 Per Day. 

Prompt, Neat, Clean Service. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 


WILSON CHEEK LTVEBY STABLE 


WENTWORTH CLOTHING GO. 

Reliable Mens’ and 
Boys’ Outfitters. 

709-11 Riverside Ave. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 

J. W. MeCUNE, 

Farm and City Property For Sale 
or Exchange. 

MONEY TO LOAN. 

7-8 Sherwood Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 

JOHN MeDOWELL, 

united States Commissioner and 
Justice of the Peace. 

Gold Butte, Mont. 

H* S. Swenson, Clyde C. Henion, 

United States Commissioner. Notary Public' 

SWENSON & HENION, 

Timber and Agricultural Lands. Homestead 
and timber locations. Agents townsite of New¬ 
port. 

Publishers of NEWPORT MINER, $ 1.50 peryear. 
NEWPORT, WASHINGTON. 



has made several of its readers over 

$500 


i By^bringing opportunities to their 
notice which they would not have 
learned in any other way. There 
are many more of these- 

$500 

pieces in store for those who read 

"PUBLIC 

LAND” 

There will be more opportunities 
than you can possibly use, so just 
speak to four of your friends about 
subscribing and take advantage 
of our clubbing offer on page 8. 


B-. J. Armstrong, Prop. 

GOOD HORSES, GOOD RIGS, GOOD 
DRIVERS, FIRST CLASS 
SERVICE. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 

CLAIR HUNT, 

Civil JEngineer- 
U. S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor. 

BOSSBURG, - - WASHINGTON. 


INLAND PRINTING COMPANY, 

610-612 Sprague Ave. 

Print Anything. Try us with your 
next order. 

It will save you money. 


M. L. SCHERMERH0RN, 
United States Commissioner 


There’s lots ®f good Vacant Agricultural Land 
tributary to 

LIND, . - - WASHINGTON 


PIANOS 

Being the only dealer in 
Spokane who buys direct 
from the manufacturer in 
carload lots, and for cash 
only, I am in a position 
to save you money if you 
want a piano.- 

AUGUST MEYER 

9\9 Riverside Ave. 


A fine Blue Print Map of that part of 
Adams County, which is in the 
Spokane Falls, Washington Land 
District, comprising thirty-two town¬ 
ships and showing all the vacnat land 
in each township and corrected up 
to date will be sent by mail on re¬ 
ceipt of price—$2.50. Address 

“PUBLIC LAND” 

124-125 Auditorium Bldg. 

Spokane. Washington. 








































:-*a~a~a~a~a~a~a~a~a~a~a~a~aa~a~a~a~a~a~a~a-*a~a~a-»-a-*-a-*-a-*-a-'-a-*-a-*'a--s 

a 


Walton 8c Goodsell, Land Attorneys 


Leave of absence from your Homestead. Applications to 
amend your Homstead and making of all papers pertaining to 
Public Lands. Contests, protests and other bearings before 
any U. S. Land Office. The Commissioner of the General 
Land Office and the Interior Department. Mining Applica¬ 
tions. Military Bounty Land Warrants. Forest Reserve, 
Soldier’s Additional Homestead, and all other Land Scrips 
bought and sold. We can get your tangles straightened with¬ 
out your coming to the office 


I 


Office Rooms 124-25 Auditorium Block, Phone Main 369 

Spok:arie, "Waslnirigtor-t - -= 


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This will introduce the Northwestern Busi¬ 
ness College to the readers of Public Land. The 
purpose of this advertisement is to induce the 
public to investigate the merits of the institution, 
for on MERIT we build. 



Its students hold United States records for 
proficiency in Civil Service and Bookkeeping. 

FIVE COURSES OF STUDY. 

Shorthand and Typewriting, Civil Service, Busi¬ 
ness, Normal, and Telegraphy. 

For detailed information call at the office or 
send for catalogue. 


. H. THOMPSON, Principal 

SPOKANE, WASH. 






















£7M££/3 £//££0f£ Of f//£/y/ll/0/Y. 







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DEVOTED TO THOSE 
INTERESTED IN—' 

PVBLIC LAUDS 

^^w'' O f” yl ®® s ^ 


W£JM/////MmmmM££^ 


$1.50 PER YEAR 


JM ADVANCE 


Vol. 1. No. 18. 

Spokane, Wash., Dec. 17, 1901. 

Single Copies, 10 Cents 




J--— 


:_- 


CONTENTS 


Editorial—- 

No More Chinese Wanted. i 

Let Them Hold Over. i 

Giazing Land Bill. .. i 


Current Topics— 

Bill Introduced by Congressman 
Wesley L. Jones. 2 


Minerals and Timber— 

The Yaquima Bay Coal & Oil 

Company. 3 

Hoquiam Timber Co. 3 

State of Idaho. 3 

Okanogan County, Wash. 3 

Oregon Marble and Lime Co. . . 3 
Sante Fe Railroad Co.. 3 


Threatened with a Beef Famine. 3 
Platinum... 3 


New Opportunities— 

New Townships Surveyed. 4 

They All Want It... .. 4 

State of Washington. 4 


Land Laws and Decisions— 
Coal Land Laws. 


Miscellany— 

Answers to Subscribers. 6 

Little Bristles... 7 

Farm Ponderations. 7 

Graving Land Bill—Con. 7 

Bill Introduced by Congressman 
Wesley L. Jones—Con.. 8 




























































ADVERTISEMENTS 


T. D. HASTIE, 

Attorney at Law, 

U. S. Court Commissioner. 


Homestead Filings and Final Proofs. 
OROFINO, IDAHO. 


BOLLIN J. BEEVES, 


United States Commissioner, 


WILBUR, 


WASHINGTON. 


SIDNEY MOOB HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

In and for Diztrict of Washington. 


HOQUIAM, 


WASHINGTON. 


A. B. SWANSON, 
United States Commissioner, 


Notary Public, Loans 
and Collections—Conveyancer 


WILSON CREEK, 


WASHINGTON. 


GUMMING BROS. & POWELL, 
Choice Timber and Homestead Loca¬ 
tions on Government Land. 

TIMBER CRUISED AND ESTIMATES GIVEN 

Fruit, grazing and ranch lands and pine and 
cedar timber for sale. 


801 Ys Riverside Ave. 


SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


LAND SCRIP 


-FOR 


Surveyed or Unsurveyed 

Government Laud, lowest prices, 
and quick delivery. We also 
have some choice saw mill loca¬ 
tions, and timber lands in white 
pine belt of Northern Idaho. 

New Northwestern lumber Co., 

62-63 Jameson Block. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


UNITED STATES COMMISSIONERS 


ALABAMA 

ELLIOTT G. RICKARBY, 

United States Commissioner 

86 St. Michaels St., MOBILE 


IDAHO 

JAMES DeHAVEN, 

United States Commissioner 

ORANGEVILLE 


OROFINO 


T. D. HASTIE, 

United States Commissioner 

MONTANA 

JOHN M. DOWELL, 

United States Commissoner 

GOLD BUTTE 


WASHINGTON 

A. R. SWANSON, 

United States Commissoner 

WILSON CREEK 


SIDNEY MOOR HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

HOQUJAM 


ROLLIN J. REAVES, 
United States Commissioner 


WILBUR 


J. W. MARSHALL, 

Attorney and United States Commissoner 
Auditorium, SPOKANE 


M. L. SCAERMERHORN, 
United States Commissioner 


LIND 


H. S. SWENSON, 
United States Commissioner 


NEWPORT 


ORIN H. WOODS, 

United States Commissioner 

BASIN 


C. H. HOLDEN, 


Attorney at Law. 


Choice timber lands In large or small 
tracts. Timber land cruised and estimates 
given. Government lands located. Fruit 
lands. Ranch land. Grazing land for sale. 
Climate unsurpassed; no cold, no heat, 
lands, raneh land, grazing land for sale, 
no cyclones. Correspondence solicited. 


FLORENCE^ OREGON. 


HOMES FOB THE HOMESEEKEBS 

LANDS FOR THE LANDLESS. 

We have a large list of the choicest 
farming lands In the Big Bend and 
throughout the Inland Empire. Improved 
farms $15 to $20 per acre. This is the sec¬ 
tion that produces 30,000,000 bushels of 
wheat per annum. Fine fruit; no failures; 
ideal climate. Money placed for non-resi¬ 
dents on first mortgages on first class 
land. Trantum & Schoonover. Odessa,Wn. 


JNO. JAS. GBAVES, 


Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, 
Conveyancer, Beal Estate, 


MEYERS FALLS, 


WASHINGTON. 


J. B. ZIEGLER, 

Notary Public, Beal Estate and Fire 
Insurance Agent. 


IMPROVED FARM LANDS, RAW 
LANDS AND TOWN PROPER¬ 
TIES FOR SALE. 


Prices and Terms will be Furnished 
Promptly. 


ODESSA, 


Office on First Avenue. 

WASHINGTON. 





Quickly secured. OUR FEE DUE WHEN PATENT 
OBTAINED. Send model, sketch or photo, with 
description for free report no to patentability. 48-PAGE 
HAND-BOOK FREE. Contains references and full 
| information. WRITE FOR COPY OF OUR SPECIAL 
OFFER. ItLthemosfcliberal propositionevermade by 
a patent attorney, and EVERY INVENTOR SHOULD 
I READ IT before applying for patent. Address: 


PATENT LAWYERS, 

| Le Droit Bldg., WASHINGTON, D. C. 


Free Homesteads. 


There are over 100 good quarter sections with 
in short distance of the Great Northern Railroad 
that are subject to homestead entry, the same 
kind of land that produced 40 bushels of wheat 
to the acre this year. We have an accurate 
knowledge of these vacant tracts and will locate 
desirable parties on them at vary reasonable 
rates. Call on 


H. E. STONE, 

With O. W. Stone Undertaking Co. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON 






















































One Copy Received 

DEC. 23 1901 

COPYRIGHT ENTRY 

CLASS XXe. No. 
COPY S. 


PUBLIC LAND. 


f//£//0//££7M££ /J Tft£ftOP£ Of f//£ftf£/Oft 



Offices 124-125 Auditorium Bldg., Spokane, Wash. 


ADVEKTISING t^ATES ON A P PLICATION. 

Entered at Spokane, Wash., as Second Class Mail Matter. 

Copyrighted 1901 by Walton & Goodsell. 

Yol. 1. Spokane, Wash , Dee. 17,1901. No. 18. 


No more Chinese wanted—the bar is up and it 
should be to stay—the line might be drawn still closer 
and with much benefit to the American laborer, pro¬ 
ducer and home-builder. 


LET THEM . HOLD OVER; 

“Public Land” has no politics. Its mission 
is to contribute to the permanent prosperity of 
the nation and the happiness and welfare of 
its citizens. During the past four years its 
editor aud publishers have come in direct per¬ 
sonal contact with nearly everyone of the 
Registers and Receivers of the Land Offices in the 
Slate of Washington. We have had business before 
all of them and know of our own personal knowledge 
and without exception that the land dealing public 
has had the service of a force of men that were not 
only courteous in their treatment of Uncle Sam s pa¬ 
trons, but that they were men possessed of marked 
ability for the transaction of that class of business. 
They may all have been appointed for political rea¬ 
sons", but they sh ould all be asked to serve another 
term for reasons of statesmanship. 

The public has no interest in political fences, but 
it has a live vital interest in the proper transaction of 
its land office business. 

The service of men who have had four yeais ac¬ 
tual experience in a Land Office is valuable to people 
who patronize that particular office, and they should 
be allowed to have it. 


Elsewhere in this issue we print the grazing land 


bill introduced by Congressman Wesley L. Jones of 
the state of Washington and also Mr. Jones’ letter in¬ 
viting suggestions from anyone interested in that 
matter. We hope that each of our readers in every 
one of the public land states will not only read the 
hill but will write Mr. Jones their opinion of it. This 
is one of the most important bills concerning the 
disposition of the public lands that has ever been in¬ 
troduced in the national legislature and should re¬ 
ceive the consideration of every citizen of the 
United States whether he ever expects to avail him¬ 
self of its provisions or not. 

“Public Land” is heartily in favor of a grazing 
land law and for several weeks has been advocating 
the passage of a measure of this kind and gladly 
supports (this) house bill No. 226 . We believe, 
however, that there are too many restrictions in it. 
Chief among these is that which confines its bene¬ 
fits to 'the state.of Washington; it should be ex¬ 
tended to each of the twenty-seven public land states 
and territories of the United States, for the obvious 
reason that practically the same conditions that ex¬ 
ist where the law would apply in the state of 'Wash¬ 
ington are also present in each of the other states 
and territories, with the possible exception of the 
state of Iowa, where all of the vacant public land has 
been disposed of. 

The purpose of the author of this bill has been 
to prevent speculation in the public land and to make 
it impossible for the powerful corporations to barter 
in the rights of the individual and by so doing ulti¬ 
mately acquire title to large areas of this land. This 
purpose is a laudable one and there can be no ques¬ 
tion but that every precaution should be taken to pre¬ 
vent results of this kind, but the clause referred to 
makes it impossible for the majority of those who 
wish to purchase that class of land to do so, for the 
double reason that they are neither land owners nor 
claimants to government land, the title to which has 
not been perfected. This shuts out those who may 
not have any land adjoining them which would be 
of the character contemplated by the bill; it might 
even “corner” with them, but the department has 
held that land does not “join” when it simply “cor¬ 
ners,” hence the land might be near enough for all 
practical purposes yet not “contiguous.” 

Again the act of August 30 , 1890 , which prevents 
the appropriation of more than 320 acres under the 
land laws (mineral excepted) would interfere with 
the intention of the author for those now having 

(Continued on Page 7.) 


































2 


PUBLIC LAND 


CURRENT TOPICS. 


We have received the following letter from Congressman 
W. L. Jones of the state of Washington and House Bill No. 
226, to which we respectfully invite the earnest consider¬ 
ation of every person interested 'in public land matters: 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U. ,S., Washington, 
D. C., Dec. 5, 1901.—‘Dear Sir: I herewith enclose you copy 
of bill which I have introduced relative to the sale of graz¬ 
ing lands iin the state of Washington. I would like very 
much indeed to have expressions from you and from any 
of your oonsbitutents as to your views in regard to this hill 
and any suggestions that you and they may see fit ,to make 
by way of amendment or otherwise. The hill was prepared 
hy me and the intention of the same is to assist farmers 
especially and any suggestions that will .help the bill along 
this line will he cheerfully incorporated in the bill. A brief 
synopsis of the bill and its provisions is ais follow's: 

The bill provides for the sale of purely grazing lands at 
$1.25 per 'acre, 25 cents cash and the balance in four equal 
annual payments. Sales can he made on tracts not exceed¬ 
ing 320 acres. Only persons who own land, or who are 
occupying the land under the land laws of the United States, 
can purchase and only one purchase can be made by any 
one individual. Furthermore, the tract purchased also must 
he contiguous to the tract owned or occupied by the pur¬ 
chaser. Anyone who is not entitled to the land he occupies 
cannot get patent until after he does get title to the original 
tract. 

■I believe that a measure something like this would be of 
great benefit to our farmers. It will leave the great body 
of grazing lands, of course, open, as i,t now is, but to the 
farmers along the edges of grazing lands, whose farms may 
adjoint a tract of public land, they can secure a tract for 
pasturage. I understand that, through the eastern part of 
our state there are many tracts of what are called “scab” 
lands adjoining farms which are fit for nothing but grazing. 
Now, under this bill, the farmer could purchase not ex¬ 
ceeding 320 acres. He could fence it and would be able to 
take care of and develop the pasture land. If the amount 
of the purchase, 320 acres, is considered too large, it might 
be cut down to 160 acres. It might be considered that the 
land contemplated to be sold at $1.25 per acre is rather a 
high price, but 1 think a great many could afford to pay 
this much in order to secure the exclusive use of a tract 
of land for pasturage purposes. This also would result in 
benefit to the county and state because it would make this 
land taxable. 

Many other reasons might be .suggested in favor of a 
bill of this character, and I assure you that I will appreciate 
any suggestions that you or your readers may have to sug¬ 
gest either for or against the proposition. Very sincerely 
yours, W. L. JONES. 


FIFTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS—FIRST SESSION. 

H. R. 226. 

'IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 
December 2, 1901. 

Mr. Jones, of Washington, introduced the following bill, 
which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands 
and ordered to be printed. 


A BILL 

Providing for the sale of grazing lands in the State of 
Washington. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 

2 tiveis of the United States of America in congress as¬ 

sembled, 

3 That surveyed public lands of the United States within 

the State 

4 of Washington not included within military, Indian, ot 

other 

5 reservations of the United States, valuable chiefly for 

grazing, 

6 but unfit for cultivation, and 'which have not been 

offered at 

7 public sale, according to law, may be sold to citizens of the 

8 United States, or persons who have declared their in¬ 

tention 

9 to become such, in quantities not exceeding three hundred 

10 and twenty acres to any one person at the minimum price 

11 of one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre: Provided, 

12 That nothing herein contained shall defeat or impair any 

13 bona fide claim under any law of the United States, or 

14 authorize the sale of any min:ng claim, or the improve- 

15 ments of any bona fide settler, o.i lands containing gold, 

silver, 

2 . 

1 cinnabar, copper, or coal, or lands selected by the said 

State 

2 under any law of the United States donating lands for 

inter- 

3 nal improvements, education, or other purposes: And 

Pro- 

4 vided Further, That none of the rights conferred by 

the _Act 

5 approved July twenty-sixth, eighteen hundred and sixty- 

six, 

6 entitled “An Act granting the right of way to ditch 

and canal 

7 owners over the public lands, and for other purposes,” 

shall 

8 be abrogated by this Act; and all patents granted shall be 

9 subject to any vested and accrued water rights, or 

rights to 

10 ditches and reservoirs used in connection with such water 

11 rights, as may have been acquired under and by the provi- 

12 sioos of said Act; and such rights shall be expressly 

reserved 

13 ’in any patent issued under this Act. 

14 Sec. 2. That any person desiring to avail himself of 

15 the .provisions of this Act shall file with the register of the 

16 proper district a written statement in duplicate, one of 

which 

17 is to be transmitted ’to the General Land Office, desig¬ 

nating 

18 by legal subdivisions the particular tract of land he de¬ 

sires to 

19 purchase, setting forth that the same is unfit for culti¬ 

vation, 

20 and valuable chiefly for grazing purposes; that it is un- 

inhab- 

(i Continued on Page 8.) 















PUBLIC LAND. 


3 


MINERALS AND TIMBER. 


The Yaquina Bay Coal and Oil Company’s drill 
in Lncoln county, Oregon, is still at work with good 
promise of success. 


Hoquiam Timber Company of Hoquiam, Wash., 
was capitalized for $ 100,000 last week. The new 
corporation is a large holder of and operator in tim¬ 
ber near that place. 


The state of Idaho sold about 4000 acres of its 
white pine lands last week. It will have another 
timber sale in January. The sale took place at Mos¬ 
cow, the county seat of Latah county. 


Okanogan county, Washington, is to be placed on 
the list as a producer of fine marble. The Spokane 
Marble Company now owns six full claims near Con- 
conully and have a seventy-five-foot face of fine 
quality. 


Immense beds of lime are being uncovered by the 
Oregon Marble and Lime Company above Hunting- 
ton on the Snake river. The same company is open¬ 
ing up their large gypsum deposit on Burnt river in 
Oregon. 

The Santa Fe Railroad Company’s oil well in Or¬ 
ange county, California, near Fullerton, is one of the 
deepest in the state, being about 2000 feet deep. The 
flow for the first twelve hours is reported to have been 
nearly 600 barrels, and the same flow has steadily 
continued to the present time. Drilling was begun 
on this well about nine months ago and oil was 
struck at different depths, but not until the drill had 
penetrated its present depth did it become a gusher. 
This well is valued at a quarter of a million dollars. 

The syndicate herd owners threaten us with a beef 
famine if Congress does not pass a public land leas¬ 
ing law for their benefit. Well, we will promise 
tile American people plenty of beef if 'Congress will 
permit Uncle Sam to sell his citizens 160 acres of 
grazing land. They will fence and protect the grass 
and it will not be destroyed as is now done and 
would be done if leased for a song to> large here 
cwners whose only purpose is to grind every possi¬ 
ble penny out of each grass crop, without regard to 
whether the range amounts to a fig the following 
year or not. The Government has had too much 


experience with this class of men in the leasing of 
the grazing privileges within the limits of the dif¬ 
ferent Forest Reserves. 

The officers in charge have invariably found it 
necessary to cut them down to about one-half the 
number sought to be grazed, in order to prevent, not 
only the destruction of the grasses, but the under¬ 
growth as well. If they will destroy the ranges by 
over crowding when they are not required to pay for 
the privilege, to what extremes might they not be 
expected to go if given an absolute right to any 
given area? 


PLATINUM. 

Large quantities of platinum are found to have 
been sent down in the gold shipments from Alaska 
and it is believed that there has been much waste 
of this precious metal by the miners who did not 
know of its value, or rather did not know what it 
was and who threw it away, believing it to have 
been worthless. Like waste has been suffered in 
several different parts of the United States. Gray 
and Valentine had a fine coarse gold placer digging 
at the mouth of the East Fork in Pierce City (Idaho) 
district several years.ago and they worked for a 
whole season in a pay streak that had what they 
supposed as much cube iron as gold. The “iron” 
of course was thrown away. At that time there 
was a great demand for the metal and samples and 
descriptions were sent into all of the principal placer 
camps by the leading dealers. One of these samples 
found its way into the Pierce City district and was 
there seen by Messrs. Gray and Valentine, who at 
once recalled the difficulty they had experienced in 
getting the supposed iron out of their “clean-ups.” 
They at once made an examination of the supposed 
“iron” which they had been throwing away all sea¬ 
son and found it to be almost pure platinum. An¬ 
other case was that of a fine gold saving machine 
company which erected an expensive plant on the 
Wamsley bar, five miles above Asotin, Wash., on the 
Snake river. The saving process of the machine 
consisted of a system of silver plates which they 
found difficult to keep free, owing to their accumu¬ 
lation of some peculiar looking mineral, that prevent¬ 
ed the light flake gold from touching the plates. After 
several scourings of the plates (each time, of course, 
the “stuff” was thrown away), it was finally deter¬ 
mined to have an assay. When this was done they 
were amazed to find that they had thrown away a 
metal which had a higher market value than that 
which they were trying their utmost to save. 



















4 


PUBLIC LAND, 


NEW OPPORTUNITIES. 


NEW TOWNSHIPS SURVEYED. 

Forty-three new 'townships have been surveyed in 
the field in the state of Washington and have either 
been examined or are in the course of examination, 
and it is expected that these surveys will be accepted 
during the coming winter or spring. 

Filings will not be accepted for land in either of 
these townships until after the township plats have 
(been filed in the proper local land office. Notice of 
the filing of the township plats are always given by 
the registers and receivers to the postmasters and 
to the local papers published in and near the land 
to be thrown open to filing, and those having settled 
on any of these lands prior to the filing of the town¬ 
ship plats can 'best serve their own interests by a 
careful reading of their local papers. The settler 
on unsurveyed land is allowed three months in which 
to offer his application for 1 the land after the filing 
of the township plats. . The townships above re¬ 
ferred to are as follows: 


T. 

14 

N. 

R. 

5 

w. 

T. 

35 

N. 

R. 

20 

E. 

T. 

15 

N. 

R. 

6 

w. 

T. 

35 

N. 

R. 

26 

E. 

T. 

21 

N. 

R. 

9 

w. 

T. 

35 

N. 

R. 

32 

E. 

T. 

22 

N. 

R. 

5 

w. 

T. 

36 

N. 

R. 

7 

E. 

T. 

3 

N. 

R. 

17 

E. 

T. 

36 

N. 

R. 

25 

E. 

T. 

7 

N. 

R. 

5 

E. 

T. 

36 

N. 

R. 

32 

E. 

T. 

7 

N. 

R. 

6 

E. 

T. 

36 

N. 

R. 

33 

E. 

T. 

6 

N. 

R. 

43 

E. 

T. 

36 

N. 

R. 

37 

E. 

T. 

7 

N. 

R. 

43 

E. 

T. 

37 

N. 

R. 

32 

E. 

T. 

9 

N. 

R. 

44 

E. 

T. 

37 

N. 

R. 

42 

E. 

T. 

11 

N. 

R. 

6 

E. 

T. 

37 

N. 

R. 

43 

E. 

T. 

12 

N. 

R. 

7 

E. 

T. 

38 

N. 

R. 

26 

E. 

T. 

18 

N. 

R. 

7 

E. 

T. 

38 

N. 

R. 

-22 

E. 

T. 

20 

N. 

R. 

11 

E. 

T. 

38 

N. 

R. 

41 

E. 

T. 

21 

N. 

R. 

8 

E. 

T. 

38 

N. 

R. 

42 

E. 

T. 

21 

N. 

R. 

15 

E. 

T. 

38 

N. 

R. 

43 

E. 

T. 

21 

N. 

R. 

16 

E. 

T. 

39 

N. 

R. 

38 

E. 

T. 

32 

N. 

R. 

25 

E. 

T. 

39 

N. 

R. 

39 

E. 

T. 

34 

N. 

R. 

6 

E. 

T. 

39 

N. 

R. 

42 

E. 

T. 

34 

N. 

R. 

32 

E. 

T. 

40 

N. 

R. 

39 

E. 

T. 

23 

N. 

R. 

S. 

10, 

10 1-2 and 1: 

1 W. 




THEY ALL WANT IT. 

There are several thousand acres of excellent land 
on the headwaters of the St. Mary’s river and Santa 
creek in Shoshone county, state of Idaho, which is- 
fine agricultural land, densely covered with an unus¬ 
ually heavy growth of fine white pine timber. Many 
have gone in there and made settlement on some of 


the land. The timber operators claim to have the 
best of the timber covered by scrip locations, and 
others represent that they are looking after the 
Northern Pacific Railway Company’s interests and 
insist that the land comes within its indemnity strip, 
and therefore that the land will fall to the company. 
On top of all this the state of Idaho was given the 
preference right of selection to 600,000 acres of land 
by its enabling act by applying for the survey of 
unsurveyed townships. Much of this land has re¬ 
cently been carefully cruised and a large amount of 
the land is found to contain 20,000,000 feet of mer¬ 
chantable white pine timber to the section. That 
timber belt is claimed to be one of the finest in the 
United States. There is little or no underbrush, the 
timber is tall and long cuts of clear lurrjber can 
readily be obtained. All of this land of course will 
be subject to appropriation under the g-eneral land 
laws as soon as the surveys are completed and those 
who manage to escape the conflicting interests of 
the state and corporations will be well rewarded for 
the discomforts made necessary by their residence in 
that isolated region, as a quarter section of that tim¬ 
ber land will be nearly as valuable as a claim adjoin¬ 
ing a townsite on a newly opened Indian reserva¬ 
tion. The Weyerhauser Syndicate are heavy oper¬ 
ators in that section of country. The state through 
its land board has granted a charter to an improve¬ 
ment company to remove the obstructions from Santa 
creek and parts of the St. Mary’s river and author¬ 
ized it to charge 25 cents a thousand feet toll for 
driving privileges, and a large force of men are al¬ 
ready at work. This district can either be reached 
by way of Coeur d’Alene on the Northern Pacific 
or by way of Harrison on 'the O. R. & N. There are 
many brand new opportunities in this region. The 
business will be nearly equally divided between the 
Coeur d’Alene and Lewiston land offices. 


“State of Washington, 1901, Its Resources, Nat¬ 
ural, Industrial and Commercial,” is the title of a 
250-page book that has been published by the bureau 
of statistics, agriculture and immigration. Hon. 
Sam H. Nichols, secretary of state and ex-officio 
commissioner, and A. W. Frater, deputy commis¬ 
sioner, have collected the information and are entitled 
to much credit for their clear-cut method of present¬ 
ing these important facts concerning the state of 
Washington to those desiring to learn of the re¬ 
sources and opportunities for home building within 
its limits. 









PUBLIC LAND, 


5 


LAND LAWS AND DECISIONS. 


' COAL LAND LAWS. 

“Sec. 2347. Every person above the age of 
twenty-one years, who is a citizen of the United 
States, or who has declared his intention to’ become 
such or any association of persons severally qualified 
as above, shall, upon application to the register of 
the proper land office, 'have the right to enter, by 
legal subdivisions, any quantity of vacant coal lands 
of the United States not otherwise appropriated or 
reserved by competent authority, not exceeding 160 
acres to such individual person, or 320 acres to such 
association, upon payment to the receiver of not less 
than $10 per acre for such lands, where the same 
shall be situated more than 15 miles from any .com¬ 
pleted railroad, and not less than $20 per acre for 
such lands as shall be within 15 miles of such roach 

“Sec. 2348. Any person or association of per¬ 
sons severally qualified, as above provided, who have 
opened and improved, or shall hereafter open and 
improve, any coal mine or mines upon the public 
lands, and shall be in actual possession of the same, 
shall be entitled to a. preference right of entry under 
the preceding section, of the mines so opened snd 
improved: Provided, That when any association of 
not less than four persons, severally qualified as above 
provided, shall have expended not less than $5000 
in working and improving any such mine or mines, 
such association may enter not exceeding 640 acres, 
including such mining improvements. 

“Sec. 2349. All claims under the preceding sec¬ 
tion must be presented to the register of the proper 
land district within 60. days after the -date of actual 
possession and the commencement of improvements 
on the land by the filing of a declaratory statement 
therefor; but when the township plat is not on file 
at the date of such improvement, filing must be made 
within 60 days from the receipt of such plat at the 
district office;'and where the improvements shall have 
been made prior to the expiration of three months 
from the 3rd day of March, 1873, 60 days from the 
expiration of such three months shall be allowed foi 
the filing of a declaratory statement, and no sale 
under the provisions of this section shall be allowed 
until the expiration of six months from the 3rd day 

of March, 1873. . 

“Sec. 2350. The three perceding sections shall be 
held to authorize only one entry by the same person 
or association of persons; and no association of pei 
sons any member of which shall have taken the bene 
fit of such sections, either as an individual or as a 


member of any other association, shall enter or hold 
any other lands under the provisions thereof; and no 
member of any association which shall have taken 
the benefit of such sections shall enter or hold any 
other lands under their provisions; and all persons 
claiming under Section 2348 shall be required to 
prove their respective rights and pay for the lands 
filed upon within one year from the time prescribed 
for filing their respective claims; and upon failure to 
file the proper notice or to pay for the land within 
the required period, the same shall be subject to 
entry by any other qualified applicant. 

“Sec. 2351. In case of conflicting claims upon 
coal lands where the improvements shall be com¬ 
menced, after the 3rd day of March, 1873, priority 
of possession and improvement, followed by proper 
filing and continued good faith, shall determine the 
preference right to purchase. And also where im¬ 
provements have already been made prior to the 3rd 
day of March, 1873, division of the land claimed 
may be made by legal subdivisions, to include, as 
near as may be, the valuable improvements of the 
respective parties. The commissioner of the gen¬ 
eral land office is authorized to* issue all needful rules 
and regulations for carrying into effect the provis¬ 
ions of this and the four preceding sections. 

“Sec. 2352. Nothing in the five preceding- sec¬ 
tions shall be construed to destroy or impair any 
rights which may have attached prior to the 3rd day 
of March, 1873, or to authorize the sale of lands 
valuable for mines of gold, silver, or copper.’' 

Eighty million dollars was the amount of the 
gold production of the United States during the past 
year, a leader, as in all things else. 

Thirty Million dollars in gold is the estimated 
amount that has been shipped from Dawson, Alaska, 
during the past season. 

Outside of that which is included in the Forest 
Reserve there are perhaps 200,000 acres of timber 
land left in The Dalles (Ore.) Land District. 


The forests of the Philippine Islands cover an es¬ 
timated area of about 40,000,000 acres. The island 
of Mindanao has about half of this, amount and in 
its virgin condition. 

Uncle Sam will probably close up a little land deal 
of his own in a few days which will amount to about 
$5,000,000. The Danish West Indies will pass to 
his ownership by the transaction. 













6 


PUBLIC LAND. 


MISCELLANY. 


ANSWERS TO SUBSCRIBERS. 

Under this head complete answers will be given 
to subscribers’ questions concerning the public land 
of the United States. Name and address of each 
subscriber must be given with letter asking the 
question. 

A. E. H., Chattaroy, Wash.: I filed on a home¬ 
stead in 1892 and relinquished in October, 1894, 
The land was sand, gravel and boulders and I could 
not make a living on it. A. filed on it and had it 
for three years when he relinquished. B. now has 
it, 'but has to work away from the place most’ of 'the 
time in order to earn a living. I would like to know 
if on this state of affairs I am entitled to make an¬ 
other homestead entry? Answer: Yes, the act of 
June 5, 1900, restored the homestead right.of every 
person who had either by relinquishment, order of 
cancellation by the commissioner of the general land 
office or done by making cash (proof. Under this 
law it is not necessary to show that it was impossi¬ 
ble to make a living on the land. The departmental 
insturctions under that -particular section are as fol¬ 
lows : 

“Section 3 provides that any person who prior to 
the passage of this act has made a homestead entry, 
but from any cause has lost or forfeited the same 
shall be entitled to the ‘benefits of the homestead 
laws, as though such former entry had not been made. 
Therefore you will not hereafter reject a homestead 
application 011 the ground that the applicant can not 
take the prescribed oath that he has not previously 
made such an entry or because he has perfected title 
under Section 2301, R. S., to land entered under 
the homestead law; but he will be required to show 
by affidavit designating the entry formerly made by 
description of the land, number and date of entry, or 
other sufficient data, to enable me to identify the 
same on the records of this office, and that it was 
forfeited or commuted, as the case may be, prior to 
the passage of the act.” 


G. W. M., Rocky Ford, Colo.: Will you inform 
me if I win a contest against a pre-emption entry 
whether I would be entitled to a preference right of 
entry so I could take the land under the homestead 
law ? Answer : Yes, you would be allowed 30 days. 
Section 2 of the act of May 14, 1880, provides as 
follows: 

“Sec. 2. In all cases where any person has con¬ 


tested, paid the land office fees and procured the 
cancellation of any pre-emption, homestead or tim¬ 
ber culture entry, he shall be notified by the register 
of the land office of the district in which such land 
is situated of such cancellation, and shall be allowed 
30 days from date of such notice to enter said lands : 
Provided, That said register shall be entitle to a fee 
of $1 for the giving of such notice, to be paid by 
the contestant, and not to be reported.” 


R. S., Buffalo, Wyo.: I have discovered a valu¬ 
able tract of coal land within the limits of a forest 
reservation. Can I file my declaratory statement 
and proceed with the development of the mine and 
obtain title to it under the coal land law, and if so, 
how much will it cost per acre? Answer: Yes, you 
can do with the coal land the same as if it was not in 
a forest reserve. You will be required to pay $20 
per acre if the land is 15 miles or less from a com¬ 
pleted railroad, and $15 if it is more than that. In 
the recent case of T. P. Crowder the department held 
(Syl. 30 L. D. 92) as follows: 

“The words, ‘the existing mining laws of the 
United States,’ are to be construed, in legislative en¬ 
actments, as embracing Sections 2347 to 2352, in¬ 
clusive, of the Revised Statutes, commonly known 
as the coal land law, unless an intention to the con- ] 
trary is expressed. Coal lands are mineral lands ] 
within the meaning of the act of June 4, 1897, and 
as such are subject to entry, when found in forest j 
reservations, the 'same as other mineral lands within . 
such reservations.” 

See also “Coal Land Laws” under “Land Laws ] 
and Decisions,” page 5. 

-- 

Lt R. M., California: I settled on land that has j 
been included within the limits of a forest reserve. I 
The land had been surveyed for several years before I 
the reserve was created, but I was too poor to spare 1 
the money for filing fees. I have been told that be¬ 
er use I did not offer my application for the land j 
within three months from the time the reserve was 
finally established that I have lost my right to do J 
so. Will you kindly inform me if that is true? An- | 
swer: The circumstances of your case seem to be ■ 
identical with those of William Breeding (31 L. D. 
80) and in which it was held: 

“The excepting clause of the proclamation estab- | 
lishing the Sierra forest reservation ceases to be op- ‘ 
erative in behalf of a settler who fails to make entry 
or otherwise place of record his claim for the lands 
settled upon within the time allowed by law.” 













PUBLIC LAND. 


7 


LITTLE BRISTLES. 


A colony of Akron (Ohio) people have formed 
a colony and propose to settle 'themselves on the 
north coast of Cuba. They have purchased a num¬ 
ber of small tracts of land and intend to engage in 
fruit raising. They intend calling their settlement 
Columbia. 


One thousand Quaker families are soon to be es- 
talibshed on the beet sug'ar lands of Otero and Bent 
counties of Southern Colorado. The national organ¬ 
ization representing' the Quakers of the United 
States have decided to purchase 5000 acres under the 
Amity canal. 


A Norwegian colony has purchased a tract of 1000' 
acres near Rowlands, Penn., for the purpose of es¬ 
tablishing itself in the lumber and quarry business. 
Forty acres is to 'be allotted to each head of family 
and some of the land is to be held in trust for the 
common good. 


Three hundred colored people from Louisiana will 
soon be established on 3000 acres in Contra Costa 
county, California. They will engage in truck farm¬ 
ing. The lands are productive and well irrigated 
and if the movement is successful a much larger 
colony will be planted there. It is their purpose to 
establish a negro town which will elect all of its own 
officers from mayor to constable. 


FARM PON DER AT IO NS. 
INACTIVITY HAS NEVER YET 


' Mastered a difficult problem or learned a hard 
lesson; 

Watered the calf in the lot or milked the cow be¬ 
fore supper; 

Generated a spark of electricity or lighted a dark¬ 
ened corner; 

Carried a dainty to a sick neighbor or bandaged a 
dog’s broken leg; 

Listened to a sermon on the “talents” that didn t 
apply it to Brown. 

Made a poor piece of land pay for the toil or a good 

tract start a bank account; 


Driven the children to school when the snow was 
deep, or combed their hair when the wife was sick; 

Shovelled the snow from the path to the root-cellar 
or chicken-house or spaded up the plots for the flower 
garden; 

Chopped enough stovewook to last over Sunday 
or brought in an extra bucket of water to start din¬ 
ner with; 


('Continued from Page /.) 

homesteads or who had acquired land since August 
30, 1890, under the timber and stone, timber cul¬ 
ture or desert land law, could not take more than 
sufficient to total their entries to 320 acres, and those 
who had taken a quarter section, say for example 
under the timber and stone law and now had a 
'homestead, completed or not, would not be entitled 
to the benefits of this law, no matter how hard they 
might be struggling on the homestead tract or how 
badly they needed the grazing land to properly care 
for their stock. 

We believe that clause restricting the right to 
purchase to those owning “contiguous” lands should 
be stricken out, and the right extended to each citi¬ 
zen of the United States without regard to whether 
he owns a foot of land or not. The other provision 
of the bill requiring the payments to be made an¬ 
nually for four years, taken with the restrictions 
which the bill authorizes the land department to 
place upon the applicant, are sufficient safeguards 
to prevent the speculation which would without 
doubt be resorted to in very many cases. Among 
these safeguards, in 'the contest clause of the act of 
May 14, 1880, which awards a thirty days’ prefer¬ 
ence right of entry for the land to any qualified per¬ 
son who brings a successful contest against any un¬ 
perfected pre-emption, homestead or timber culture 
entry if the land was being taken for some other 
person than the applicant, tangible evidence to that 
effect could and doubtless would be produced before 
the entry passed to patent. In addition to the fore¬ 
going we believe that the public good can best be 
served by limiting the right of purchase under this 
law to 160 acres without regard to the amount of 
land that may have been filed on under either of the 
other land laws. We are heartily in favor of this 
bill, but would prefer to have it include every citizen 
who wished to use the land for his own benefit, and 
not for speculation. 












OEC 23 1901 


PUBLIC LAND. 


8 


(Continued from Page 2.) 

21 ited; contains no mining or other improvements, except 

■for 

22 ditch or canal purposes, where any such do exist, save 

such 

23 as were made by or belonged to the applicant, nor, as 

deponent 

24 verily believes, any valuable deposit of gold, silver, cin¬ 

nabar, 

25 copper, or coal; that deponent has made no other ap¬ 

plication. 

3. 

1 under this Act; that he does not apply to purchase the 

same on 

2 speculation, but in good faith to appropriate it to his 

own ex- 

3 elusive use and benefit; and that he has not, directly 

or ind>i- 

4 rectly, made any agreement of contract, in any way 

-or man- 

5 ner, with any person or persons whatsoever, by which the 

6 title which he might acquire from the Government of the 

7 United States should inure, in whole or in part, to the 

benefit 

8 of any person except himself; and he must also give a de- 

9 scription, by legal subdivisions, of the tract of land 

■owned or 

10 occupied by him to which the land desired to be pur¬ 

chased is 

11 contiguous; which statement must be verified by the 

oath of 

12 the applicant before the register or the receiver of the 

land 

13 office within the district where the land is situated; and if 

14 any person taking such oath shall swear falsely in the 

premises, 

15 he shall be subject to all the pains and penalties of 

perjury, 

15 and shall forfeit the money which he may have paid 
for said 

17 lands and all right and title to the same; and any grant or 

18 conveyance which he may have made, except in the 

hands of 

19 bona fide purchasers, shall be null and void. 

20 .Sec. 3. That upon the filing of said statement, as pro- 

21 vided in the second section of this Act, the register of 

the land 

22 office shall post a notice of such application, embracing a 

23 description of the land by legal subdivisions, in his of¬ 

fice for 

24 a period of sixty days, and shall furnish the applicant 

a copy 

25 of the same for publication, at the expense of such ap¬ 

plicant, 

4. 

1 in a newspaper published nearest the location of the 

premises 

2 in said land district, for a like period of time; and after 

the 

3 expiration of said sixty days, if no adverse claim shall 

■have been 

4 filed, the person desiring to purchase shall furnish to 

the register 


5 of the land office satisfactory evidence, first, that said 

notice of 

6 the application prepared by the register as aforesaid was 

duly 

7 published in a newspaper as herein required; secondly, 

that the 

8 land is of the character contemplated by this Act, unoccu- 

9 pied and without improvements, other than those ex¬ 

cepted, 

10 either mining or agricultural, and that it apparently 

contains 

11 no valuable deposits of gold, silver, cinnabar, copper, or 

12 coal; and that it is contiguous to a tract owned or oc¬ 

cupied 

13 by the applicant as hereinafter provided; and upon the 

pay- 

14 ment to the proper officer of twentydive cents per acre, to- 

15 gether with the fees of the register and receiver, as pro¬ 

vided 

16 for in the case of mining claims in the twelfth section 

of the 

17 Act approved May tenth, eighteen hundred and seventy- 

two, 

IS the applicant may be permitted to enter said tract, and, 
upon the 

19 payment of the balance of the purchase price in four 

equal annual 

20 payments, shall be entitled to a patent for the same, ex¬ 

cept that 

21 when he is occupying the tract to which the land pur¬ 

chased 

22 is contiguous under the land laws of the United .States, no 

23 patent shall issue until he shall have received a final 

receipt 

24 for such land showing that he has complied with all the 

25 requirements of the land laws of the United States: 

Provided , 

5 . 

1 That any person having a valid claim to any portion 

■of the 

2 land so purchased may object, in writing, to the issu¬ 

ance of 

3 a patent to lands so held by him, stating the nature of his 

4 claim thereto; and evidence shall be taken, and the 

merits of 

5 said objection shall be determined by the officers of the 

land , 

6 office, subject to appeal as in other land cases. 

7 Sec. 4 . That no person shall be entitled to purchase 

8 lands under this Act unless he is the owner of, or is 

occupying, 

9 under the land laws of the United States, a tract of land 

10 to which the land desired to be purchased is contiguous, 

and 

11 no person shall be allowed to make more than one pur¬ 

chase 

12 under this Act. 

13 'Sec. 5 . That effect shall be given to the foregoing pro- 

14 visions of this Act by regulations to be prescribed by the 

15 Commissioner of the General Land Office and approved by 

16 the Secretary of the Interior, and the determination of 
what may be considered grazing land shall be subject to the 
decision and regulation of the Commissioner of the General 
Land Office. 















advertisements. 


FRED’K J. H0AGLA3JD, 


Attorney at Law, 




ODESSA, 


WASHINGTON. 


J. W. MARSHALL, 
Attorney at Law. 


Practice In all the Court*. 


m Auditorium Blk., SPOKANE, WASH. 

100,000 Acres Vacant Govern, 
ment Land in Lincoln County 
Washington. 

Get a “PUBLIC LAND ” blue print 
map of Lincoln County, Washington. It 
^hows you the exact description of over 

100,000 ACRES OF VA¬ 
CANT GOVERNMENT 

Land in the famous “Big Bend’’ country. 
It is corrected up to date of purchase, is 
made from the Land Office records, is 
absolutely correct and shows all the va¬ 
cant land in Lincoln County. Sent by 
.mail on receipt of $2.50, address 


ATTEND THE 

Puget Sound Business College 

for a practical, up-to-date business course. 
tsooKkeeplng, penmanship, stenography 
a pd typewriting. Send ten cents for sam¬ 
ple dozen cards and how you can earn 
some money during spare time. Address 
D. M. KNAUF, Principal, 902 Yakima ave., 
Tacoma, Wash. 


0. W. KENNEDY, 
Livery Stable*, 


Gentle Driving Horses. Good Drivers to 
show you the land you want to see. 
Everything first class. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 


DOUGLAS HOTEL, 
William Newlove, Prop., 

AMERICAN PLAN. 

11.00 and 21.50 Per Day. 
Prompt, Neat, Clean Service. 


WILSON CREEK, 


WASHINGTON. 


WENTWORTH CLOTHING GO. 

Reliable Mens’ and 
Boys’ Outfitters. 

700-11 Riverside Ave. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 


J. W. McCUNE, 

Farm and City Property For Sale 
or Exchange. 

MONEY TO LOAN. 

7-8 Sherwood Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


JOHN McDOWELL, 

united States Commissioner and 
Justice of the Peace. 


Gold Butte, Mont. 


WILSON CREEK LIVERY STABLE 
R. J. Armstrong, Prop. 


1 1 


PUBLIC LAND 

124-125 Auditorium Bldg. 
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 


“Public Laud” 

has made several of its readers over 

$500 

———————r- 

OEsauuuMW'iM liii ihnniiKnaaaatfw 

By bringing opportunities to their 
notice which they would not have 
learned in any other way. There 
are many more of these- 




$500 






pieces in store for those who read 

“Public Land” 


GOOD HORSES, GOOD RIGS, GOOD 
DRIVERS, FIRST CLASS 
SERVICE. 


WILSON CREEK, 


WASHINGTON. 


CLAIR HUNT, 

Civil Eyragineei- 
U. S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor. 

BOSSBURG, - - WASHINGTON. 


S. Swenson, Clyde C. Henion, 

United States Commissioner. Notary Public- 

SWENSON & HENION, 

Timber and Agricultural Rands. Homestead 
and timber locations. Agents townsite of New¬ 
port. 

Publishers of NEWPORT MINER, Ji.so'peryear. 
NEWPORT, WASHINGTON. 


INLAND PRINTING COMPANY, 

610-612 Sprague Ave. 

Print Anything. Try us with your 
next order. 

It will save you money. 


M. L. SCHERMERH0RN, 
United States Commissioner 


There’s lots ef good Vacant Agricultural Laud 
tributary to 


LIND, 


WASHINGTON 


PIANOS 

Being the only dealer in 
Spokane who buys direct 
from the manufacturer in 
carload lots, and for cash 
only, I am in a position 
to save you money if you 
want a piano.- 

AUGUST MEYER 

919 Riverside Ave. 


IP 01 Mm Coil!, Islll 

A fine Blue Print Map of that part of 
Adams County, which is in the 
Spokane Falls, Washington Land 
District, comprising thirty-two town¬ 
ships and showing all the vacnat land 
in each township and corrected up 
to date will be sent by mail on re¬ 
ceipt of price—$2.50. Address 

“PUBLIC LAND” 

124-125 Auditorium Bldg. 

Spokane, Washington. 















































Leave of absence from your Homestead. Applications to 
amend your Homstead and making of all papers pertaining to 
Public Lands. Contests, protests and other bearings before 
any U. S. Land Office. The Commissioner of the General 
Land Office and the Interior Department. Mining Applica¬ 
tions. Military Bounty Land Warrants. Forest Reserve, 
Soldier’s Additional Homestead, and all other Land Scrips 
bought and sold. We can get your tangles straightened, with¬ 
out your coming to the office 


Office Rooms 124-25 Auditorium BIock, Phone Main 369 

"VSV igton 


Walton & Goodsell, Land Attorneys | 





3 

11 This will introduce the Northwestern Busi- j; 

5 1 gpSti gkj || fe gi |J |@J k IL ness College to the readers of Public Land. The j i 

purpose of this advertisement is to induce the 
I , d,'L, • ' / * public to investigate the merits of the institution, ? 

1 ' ■ I for on MERIT we build. ? 


Its students hold United States records for 
j proficienc}^ in Civil Service and Bookkeeping. 

FIVE COURSES OF STUDY. 

j! Shorthand and Typewriting, Civil Service, Busi- 
1 ness, Normal, and Telegraphy. 

For detailed information call at the office or 
1 send for catalogue. 


SPOKANE, WASH. 
























£0/7£77M££/5 T£££OP£ Of ££££/£l/OP. 



?T?/77/J//y777r/7yy//yy7/y;///S/77y. 

PVB Li SHED 

WEEKLY. 

'"^;s/////////;p£yy£s///s/;s 7 / 7 / 7 z 


DEVOTED TO THOSE 
INTERESTED IN~ 

THE PVBLIC LAMBS 


msmsmmsmmn^E. 

$1.50 PER YEAR 

IM ADVAHCE. 

i W/////y///////////y/v///////? 7 ^ 



THE VMITED STATES JT 


9 


Vol. i. No. 9?. 


Spokane, Wash., Dec. 24, 1901. Single Copies, 10 Cents 


CONT'ENTS. 


Editorial— 


Greeting. 1 

Grazing Land Bill. 1 

Penrose Immigration Bill. 1 


Current Topics— 

Free Homesteads on North Half 


of Colville Reservation. 2 

Other Public Land Bills. 2 


Minerals and Timber— 


La Cananea, Arizona. 3 

Cedar Canyon, Washington.... 3 
Mining Paragraphs.. 3 


New Opportunities— 

Fort Hall Reservation.4 

Coeur d’Alene Reservation. 5 .... 4 
Mescalero Apache Reservation . 4 


Land Laws and Decisions— 

Desert Land Law. 5 


Miscellany— 


Answers to Subscribers. 6 

Other Public Land Bills—Con.. 7 

We Want to Know. 7 

Ute Indian Reservation. 7 


Land Offices and Officers of the 
United States (corrected).... 8 





















































ADVERTISEMENTS. 


T. D. HASTXE, 

Attorney at Law, 

U. S. Conrt Commissioner. 


Homestead Filing's and Final Proofs. 
OROFIN0, IDAHO. 


BOLLIN J. BEEVES, 


United States Commissioner, 


WILBUR, 


WASHINGTON. 


SIDNEY MODE HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

la and for District of Washing-ton. 


HOQUXAM, 


WASHINGTON. 


A. E. SWANSON, 
United States Commissioner, 


Notary Public, Loans 
and Collections—Conveyancer 


WILSON CREEK, 


WASHINGTON. 


CUMMINGr BROS. & POWELL, 
Choice Timber and Homestead Loca¬ 
tions on Government Land. 

TIMBER CRUISED AND ESTIMATES GWEN 

Fruit, grazing and ranch lands and pine and 
cedar timber for sale. 


80114 Riverside Ave. 


SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


LAND SCRIP 

—-FOR--- 

Surveyed or Unsurveyed 

Government Land, lowest prices, 
and quick delivery. We also 
have some choice saw mill loca¬ 
tions, and timber lands in white 
pine belt of Northern Idaho. 

New Northwestern Lumber Co., 

62-63 Jameson Block. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


UNITED STATES COMMISSIONERS 


ALABAMA 

ELLIOTT G. RICKARBY, 

United States Commissioner 

86 St. Michaels St., MOBILE 


COLORADO 

H. A. WILDHACK, 
United States Commissioner 


MEEKER 


IDAHO 

JAMES DeHAVEN, 

United States Commissioner 

GRANGEVILLE 


T. D. HASTIE, 
United States Commissioner 


OROF1NO 


ILLINOIS. 

simeonTw. king, 

United States Commissioner 

Room 941, Monadnock Block, CHICAGO 

MONTANA 

JOHN McDOWELL, 

United States Commissoner 

GOLD BUTTE 


WASHINGTON 

A. R. SWANSON, 

United States Commissoner 

WILSON CREEK 


SIDNEY MOOR HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

HOQ.UIAM 


ROLLIN J. REEAVES, 
United States Commissioner 


WILBUR 


Choice timber lands In large ®r small 
tracts. Timber land cruised and estimates 
given. Government lands located. Fruit 
lands. Ranch land. Grazing land for sale. 
Climate unsurpassed; no c»ld, no heat, 
lands, raneh land, grazing land for sale, 
no cyclones. Correspondence solicited. 


FLORENCE, OREGON. 


J. W. MARSHALL, 

Attorney and United States Commissoner 

Auditorium, SPOKANE 

M. L. SCHERMERHORN, 

United States Commissioner 

LIND 

H. S. SWENSON, 
United States Commissioner 

NEWPORT 

WYOMING. 

QRIN hTwOODS, 
United States Commissioner 

BASIN 

C. H HOLDEN, 


Attorney at Law. 



HOMES FOE THE HOMESEEKEES 

LANDS FOR THE LANDLESS. 

We have a large list of the choicest 
farming lands in the Big Bend and 
throughout the Inland Empire. Improved 
farms $15 to $20 per acre. This Is the sec¬ 
tion that produces 30,000,000 bushels of 
wheat per annum. Fine fruit; no failures; 
ideal climate. Money placed for non-resi¬ 
dents on first mortgages on first class 
land. Trantum & Schoonover, Odessa,Wn. 


JNO. JAS. GBAVES, 


Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, 
Conveyancer, Eeal Estate, 


MEYERS FALLS, WASHINGTON. 


J. B. ZIEGLER, 

Notary Public, Eeal Estate and Firt 
Insurance Agent. 


IMPROVED FARM LANDS, RAW 
LANDS AND TOWN PROPER¬ 
TIES FOR SALE. 


Prices and Terms will be Furnished 
Promptly. 


Office on First Avenue. 


ODESSA, 


WASHINGTON. 




Quickly secured. OUR FEE DTJE WEEN PATENT 
OBTAINED. Send model, sketch or photo, with 
description for free report as to patentability. 48-PAGE 
HAND-BOOS FREE. Contains references and full 
| information. WRITE FOR COPT OF OUR SPECIAL 
OFFER. It is the most liberal proposition ever made by 
a patent attorney, and EVERY INVENTOR SHOULD 
j READ IT before applying for patent. Addre**: 


1&C0. 


PATENT LAWYERS, 

| LeDraitBidg., WASHINGTON, D. C. 


Free Homesteads. 


There are over 100 good quarter sections with 
in short distance of the Great Northern Railroad 
that are subject to homostead entry, the same 
kind of land that produced 40 bushels of wheat 
to the acre this year. We have an accurate 
knowledge of these vacant tracts and will locate 
desirable parties on them at very reasonable 
rates. Call on 


H. E. STONE, 

With O. W. Stone Undertaking Co. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON 























































TffFtTIWXWorl 

OONQRES*, 

Ottt Copy Rec«v*o 

DEC. 30 1901 

CnPVmOHT BHTftV 

CLASS XXa No. 
COPY 3. 


PUBLIC LAND. 


i 


r//£//o/7fmx£/? /j wf mo p£ of r//£///iim. 



Offices 124-125 Auditorium Bldg., Spokane, Wash. 


ADVERTISING RATES ON APPLICATION. 


Entered at Spokane, Wash., as Second Class Mail Matter. 


Copyrighted 1901 by Walton A Goodsell. 


Vol. 1 . Spokane, Wash , Dec. 24,1901. No. 19. 


“PUBLIC LAND” extends cordial greetings 
to its friends and wishes for each a Merry Chirst- 
•mas and Happy New Year. The year which is now 
so nearly spent has witnessed many happy successes 
for thousands who at its beginning had no place 
they could call home, but now at its close are pos¬ 
sessed of one hundred and sixty acres of land which 
with ordinary care and prudence will not only pro¬ 
tect them against poverty and want in their old age, 
but will be a nice legacy for their children. The 
generosity of the Government in giving so large a 
quantity of land to the homebuilders should not be 
too lightly weighed, nor when the land is once ob¬ 
tained should it, be allowed to pass out of one’s 
possession for a small, and as is done in many cases, 
a comparatively worthless consideration. Like all 
other blessings many do not realize what they lose 
until their homestead right has been wasted and 
they find themselves without a foot of land of their 
own, or the means to acquire title to any. 

There are thousands of rich opportunities for 
the energetic man or woman without a home and 
there is an equal number of earnest men and women 
who want them. As oft repeated, it is our mission 
to bring them together. To do this we need the 
hearty co-operation of a few more earnest friends 
who will assist us in letting their friends know of oui 
purpose. As a good start for the new year will you 
not speak to five of your friends and then ask them to 
tell five of their friends that “PUBLIC LAND S 
resolution for the new year is to show the home¬ 
less some of the opportunities that have been pro¬ 


vided by a generous Government, and to find a good 
piece of land for them to make a start for a perma¬ 
nent home. 


THE GRAZING LAND BILL. 

Congressman Jones of Washington, the author of 
H. R. No. 226 which provides for the disposal of 
certain lands of the United States informs 
“PUBLIC LAND” that it may be a difficult matter 
to secure its pasage at this session of Congress, not¬ 
withstanding the several restrictions designed to pre¬ 
vent speculation, owing to the disposition of Con¬ 
gress to close up every possible avenue for specula¬ 
tion in public lands. It will therefore be necessary 
for every person interested in a law of this kind to 
appoint himself a committee of one for the purpose 
of circulating a petition among his neighbors at once 
and forwarding it to “PUBLIC LAND” or to your 
Congressman (no matter what State you live in or 
■who your Congressman happens to be.) 

The nation needs statesmen in private life; men 
who have sufficient interest in the welfare of their 
community to give a few minutes of their time to a 
well directed movement intended for the improve¬ 
ment and advancement of the nation. Thirty min¬ 
utes time of concerted action on the part of one-half 
the voters of the country is sufficient to carry any 
measure through Congress on a tidal wave of popu¬ 
larity. Can YOU spare a little of your time for this 
purpose? If you will, kindly send us in a nice well 
signed petition, praying for the passage of a graz¬ 
ing land purchase law. 


PENROSE IMMIGRATION BILL. 

Senator Boise Penrose of Pennsylvania has intro¬ 
duced an immigration bill which he and the Commis¬ 
sioner of General Immigration have prepared. It 
provides among other things for the collection of 
three dolars per head for each immigrant from all 
foreign countries, except Mexico and Canada and 
excludes all idiots, paupers and persons liable to 
become a public charge, and those afflicted with 
loathsome or contagious disease. The bill should go 
further and place a physical and educational test 
upon each person admitted and those who could not 
pass a physical examination which would entitle 
them to be insured in an old line insurance company 
are not of the material which we need. To properly 
undertake the highest duties of American citizenship 
there should be a “healthy mind in a healthy body,” 

( Continued on Page 7 .) 


































2 


PUBLIC LAND. 


CURRENT TOPICS. 


FREE MOMESTEAD BILL FOR THE NORTH 
HALF OF THE COLVILLE RE¬ 
SERVATION. 

57th Congress, 1st Session. 

H. R. 159. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 
December 2, 1901. 

Mr. Jones of Washington, Introduced the Following 
bill which was referred to the Committee on the 
Public Lands and ordered to be printed. 

A BILL 

Providing for free homesteads on the public lands 
for actual and Bona Fide settlers in the north 
one-half of the Colville Indian Reservation, State 
of Washington, and reserving the public lands for 
that purpose. 

1 BE IT ENACTED BY THE SENATE AND 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTA- 

2 TIVES OF THE UNITED STATES OF 

AMERICA IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED. 

3 That all settlers under the homestead laws of the 

United 

4 States upon the agricultural public lands in the 

north one-half 

5 of the Colville Indian Reservation, in the State 

of Washington, 

6 opened to settlement by Executive order on the 

tenth day of 

7 October, nineteen hundred, who have resided or 

shall here 

8 after reside upon the tract, entered in good faith 

for the period 

9 required by existing law, shall be entitled to a 

patent for the 

10 land so entered upon the payment to the local 

land officers of 

11 the usual and customary fees, and no other or 

further charge 

12. of any kind whatsover shall be required from 
such settler to 

13 entitle him to a patent for the land covered by his 
entry: 

II. 

1 PROVIDED, That the right to commute any 

such entry and pay 

2 for said lands in the option of any such settler 

and in the time 

3 and at-the prices now fixed by the existing laws 
• shall remain 


4 full force and effect: PROVIDED, HOW¬ 

EVER, That all sums of 

5 money so released which if not released would be¬ 

long to any 

6 India-n tribe, shal be paid to such Indian tribe by 

the United 

7 States, and that in the event that the proceeds of 

the annual 

8 sales of public lands shall not be sufficient to meet 

the 

9 payments heretofore provided for agricultural 

colleges and 

10 experimental stations by an Act of Congres ap¬ 

proved August 

11 thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety, for the 

more complete! 

12 endowment 'and support of the colleges for the 

benefit of agri- 

13 culture and mechanic arts established under the 

provisions of 

14 an Act of Congress approved July second, eigh¬ 

teen hundred 

15 and sixty-two, such deficiency shall be paid by 

the United 

16 States: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That 

no lands shall be herein 

17 included on which the United States Government 

had made 

18 valuable! improvements, or lands that have been 

sold at public 

19 auction by said Government. 

20 Sec. 2. That all Acts or parts of Acts incon¬ 
sistent with 

21 the provisions of this Ac tare hereby repealed. 


Mr. Jones has also introduced the following bills: 

H. R. 165-—Provides for the publication in a 
newspaper nearest the land, in the land district, of all 
notices of final proof on pre-emption, homestead 01- 
desert land entries. 


H. R. 166—Give to the Secretary of the Interior 
the right to extend time of final proof and payment 
in all desert land entries where no adverse claim has 
intervened, and where the entryman is or may be un¬ 
able to complete the same within the time now re¬ 
quired by law, when such failure is due to causes over 
which the entryman had no control. 

H. R. 169—Provides for the payment by the Gov¬ 
ernment to the settlers on lands included within For- 

(Continued on Page 7.) 














PUBLIC LAND. 


3 


MINERALS AND TIMBER. 


LA CANANEA, ARIZONA. 

La Cananea, Arizona is one of, if not the g'reatest 
copper camp in the world. Over 5,000 men are on 
the payrolls. There are three smelters 250, 300 and 
350 tons respectively that are furnished with more 
high grade one than they can possibly handle and 
another smelter of larger capacity is now under con¬ 
struction. The railroad has 1>een built to within 
fourteen miles of the town of La Cannanea and it 
is -the intention to have it completed to the town by 
•the first of -the year. The population of that busy 
town is about 7,000 and mostly American. The 
smelters are one mile from the town. 


CEDAR CANYON CAMP. 

There has been a small cutting off of miners at the 
shipping mines in this camp during the last few days 
owing to the bad condition of the roads which pre¬ 
vents the hauling of ore to the railroad. The Silver 
Seal wil probably put on a larger force than they 
have ever yet had, as soon as the roads freeze up. 

Extensive development work is being done in all 
directions from this and the other shippers of Cedar 
Canyon in the hope of uncovering some of the same 
kind of ore. Many flattering prospects have already 
been opened up and there is an atmosphere of pros¬ 
perity about the camp that promises to make it a 
permanent producer of rich ores. 

The “copper belt,” which lies between Hunter and 
Cleveland creeks and about four miles from Cedar 
Canyon Camp, is yielding bountifully to kind treat¬ 
ment. Messrs. May, ^Whitney, Emerson and Cam¬ 
eron are getting nice results from their properties. 
Mr. Kern has over 100 tons of ore on the dump that 
runs as high as $100 per ton. The values are chiefly 
in copper, although the ore carries a small amount 
of gold. 


Saint Louis Oil Merchants have purchased 5,000,- 
000 barrels of crude oil for fuel purposes, from the 
owners of the Beaumont, Texas oil wells. The price 
paid was twenty cents per barrel; oil will be the only 
fuel used on the Louisiana Purchase Exposition 
Grounds. 


The latest Alaskan Stampede was to the Bremner 
district, reported from Valdes about the first of the 
•month. It is a coarse gold proposition and yielding 
three to five dollars 'to the pan. The new diggings 
are about ninety miles from Valdes and about mid¬ 


way between that point and the great copper belt. 

Mrs. Annie E, Sno-w, has been awarded an eigh¬ 
teenth lift interest in the Veatch survey which in¬ 
cludes all of the wells in the Beaumont district with 
the possible exception of five or six wells. The court 
allows Mrs. Snow one eighteenth of the oil after pay¬ 
ing the expense of marketing the same. 


An Artesian flow of water has been struck in Jour¬ 
ney of Death desert, New Mexico -at a depth of 200 
feet that produces 1,000 gallons per hour. The own¬ 
ers were boring for oil, but struck a flow that will 
be of greater value 'than oil. 


Minnesota timber operators are reported to be 
planning the construction of a large saw-mill at the 
mouth of Grands Ronde River, twenty-five miles 
above Asotin, for the purpose of making the forests 
of Asotin County, Washington, and Wallowa Coun¬ 
ty, Oregon into -lumber for eastern shipment. 


The sales of Idaho- timber lands which were post¬ 
poned last week when about one half of the land ad¬ 
vertised had been offered, was owing to the fact that 
the State had already disposed of all the land which 
it was authorized to sell in one year. The sales were 
postponed to January, which is the earliest time on 
which additional sales could take place, under the 
la w, which restricts it to- be the ma’ximum sales of 
16,000 acres per annum. 

The State land board of Idaho- has selected about 
45,000 acres of valuable timber lands during the past 
year, under its enabling act, which entitles it to a 
total selection of 600,000 acres. 

Rich copper deposits have been discovered in the 
Olympic Mountains, Washington, which have 
hitherto been supposed to be barren of minerals. 


The Weyerhaeuser timber syndicate has a large 
number of cruisers operating along the line of the 
Northern Pacific’s branch to Gray’s Harbor. This 
syndicate is already a large holder of timber lands 
near Gray’s Harbor and it seems that since there is 
a prospect of getting the timber to- market that the 
construction of large mills at Gray’s Harbor will be 
begun at once. 

The famous Snow Storm mine near Mullan, Ida¬ 
ho, struck a six foot ledge of 50 per cent, copper last 
week, which also carries good values in silver and 
gold, 
























4 


PUBLIC LAND. 


NEW OPPORTUNITIES. 


FORT HALL INDIAN RESERVATION. 

Col. H. V. A. Ferguson, special agent of the Gen¬ 
eral Land Office has completed the classification of 
the lands on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation which 
surrounds Pocatello, in the State of Idaho. Col. 
Ferguson’s report to the General Land Office will 
show that there are 461,000 'acres of land of which 
90,412 acres are agricultural, 326,000 acres grazing 
and 1,873 acres mineral lands. All of the moun¬ 
tainous land is classified in this list as grazing lands, 
but of course will be subject to appropriation under 
the mineral land laws. There are 10,000 acres of ir¬ 
rigable lands on the ceded portion and it seems that 
something like 7,000 acres of this amount have been 
allotted to the Indians, but there are doubtless many 
of these allotments tha are fraudulent and no doubt 
will be set aside because are not made by members of 
either the Bannock or Shoshone tribes and many of 
them are alleged to be citizens of the United States. 
The Idaho Falls Canal has never been buitl upon the 
ceded portion ol the reservation, and it is believed 
that the clause requiring the payment of ten dollars 
per acre for agricultural lands under the irrigating 
canal, will not be enforced because the settlers can¬ 
not obtain any water from it at the present time, and 
the special agerit has returned those lands simply as 
agricultural and they are therefore placed in the 
$2.50 per acre rating. Had the canal been built on 
that part north of Pocatello, ten dollars per acre 
would have been required of the settlers. All of the 
land within five miles of that city will be sold to the 
highest bidder. 

The matter of deciding on the method of opening 
this reservation has not yet been settled upon. It 
seems that the citizens of Pocatello prefer the lottery 
plan that was used for the first time in the opening 
of the Kiowa-Comanche Reservation in Oklahoma, 
but Mr. Hermann, Commissioner of the General 
Land Office is reported to have favored the old 
“sooner” method. There seems now to be no reason 
for delaying the opening as everything is in readi¬ 
ness for the President’s proclamation. In addition 
to parties who have been attracted to Pocatello since 
the recent movement to open this reservation there 
are several families who have been “squatting” on 
th southern edge of the Reservation for many years 
who will fare 'badly if the old “sooner” rule is en¬ 
forced. . 


THE COEUR D’ALENE RESERVATION. 

There are many anxious eyes resting upon the 
Coeur d’ Alene Indian Reservation in Kootenai 
County, Idaho, and just a few miles from Spokane. 
This Reservation contains approximately 500,000 
acres of fine land about equally divided as to classes. 
Although there is no prairie land to speak of there 
are many open places. The white pine timber belt 
extends over most of the reservation and if the lands 
had no value but for this one item it would mean the 
addition of perhaps $2,000,000 in stumpage value 
to the parties securing it. The lands are easily 
reached from either the Northern Pacific or the O. 
R. & N., the latter road running almost through the 
center of it. There are supposed to be rich gold, 
silver and copper deposits in different parts of the 
Reserve, though nothing definite of course is known 
of this, as prospecting for mineral is not permitted 
there. The agricultural lands are known to be web 
adopted to horticulture as well as agriculture, and 
the territory now occupied by a mere handful of In¬ 
dians will be converted into a busy aggregation of 
live, energetic humanity, threshing riches from na¬ 
ture’s lap as soon as Congress sees fit to throw the Re¬ 
servation open. It is very probable that this will not be 
accomplished for a long time, as the preliminaries 
are not even begun. 


MESCALERO APACHE RESERVATION. 

The citizens of New Mexico are trying to have the 
Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation in Otero 
County, New Mexico, opened to homestead settle¬ 
ment. The elevation of the lands is rather high, 
they are nearly all covered with timber and the Presi¬ 
dent seems inclined to convert the Indian Reserva¬ 
tion into a Forest Reserve as the Reservation was es¬ 
tablished by executive order and the change could 
therefore be made without Congressional action. 
There are about 400,000 acres besides that which has 
been alloted to the Indians. In the event of the Res¬ 
ervation being turned into a Forest Reserve, the 
lands will not be subject to entry under the settle¬ 
ment laws, but the mineral laws will apply and this 
wijl open the way for the disposal of a large part of 
the land, as it is known to be well mineralized. Ala¬ 
mogordo, on the Mexican Central Railroad, is prob¬ 
ably the best way of reaching this Reservation. 


Henry Salzer, of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, has pur¬ 
chased 2,163 acres of cut lands in Marinette County, 
Wisconsin, to be used for colonization purposes. 












PUBLIC LAND 


5 


LAND LAWS AND DECISIONS. 


DESERT LAND LAW. 


“AN ACT to provide for the sale of desert lands 
in certain States and territories. 


BE IT ENACTED BY THE SENATE AND 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN CON¬ 
GRESS ASSEMBLED, That it shall be lawful for 
any citizen of the United States, or any person of re¬ 
quisite age, “who may be entitled to become a citi¬ 
zen, and who has filed his declaration to become 
such,” and upon payment of twenty-five cents per 
acre, to file a declaration, under oath, with the regis¬ 
ter and the receiver of the land district in which any 
desert land is situated, that 'he intends to reclaim a 
tract of desert land, not exceeding one section; by 
conducting water upon the same within the period 
of 'three years thereafter: PROVIDED, HOW¬ 
EVER, That the right to the use of water by the 
person so conducting the same on or to any tract of 
desert land of six hundred and forty acres shall de¬ 
pend upon bona fide prior appropriation; and such 
right shall not exceed the amount of water actually 
appropriated and necessarily used for the purpose of 
irrigation and reclamation; and all surplus water 
over and above such actual appropriation and use, 
together with the water of all lakes, rivers, and other 
sources of water supply upon the public lands, and 
not navigable, shall remain and be held free for the 
* appropriation and use of the public for irrigation, 
mining, and manufacturing purposes subject to ex¬ 
isting rights. Such declaration shall describe parti¬ 
cularly said section of land if surveyed, and if un¬ 
surveyed' shall describe the same as nearly as possi¬ 
ble without a survey. At any time within the period 
of three years after filing said declaration upon mak¬ 
ing satisfactory proof to the register and -receiver of 
the reclamation of said tract of land in the manner 
aforesaid, and upon the payment to the receiver of 
the additional sum of one dollar per acre foi a tiact 
of land not exceeding six hundred and forty acres to 
any one peson, a patent for the same shall be issued to 
him; PROVIDED, That no person shall be per¬ 
mitted to enter more thon one tract of land and not 
to exceed six hundred and forty acres, which shall be 


in compact form. » 

■ Sec 2 That all lands exclusive of timber lands 
and mineral lands which will not without irrigation, 
produce some agricultural crop, shall be \ 

ert lands withing the meaning of this act, whicn 
fact shall be ascertained by proof of two 


credible witnesses under oath, whose affidavits shall 
be filed in the land-office in which said tract of land 
may be situated. 

Sec. 3. That this act shall only apply to and 
take effect in the States of California, Oregon and 
Nevada, and the Territories of Washington, Idaho, 
Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico 
and Dakota, and the determination of what may be 
considered desert land shall be subject to the decis¬ 
ion and regulation of the Commissioner of the Gen¬ 
eral Land Office. 

Approved March 3, 1877.” 

See also, 

SEC. 2, ACT OF MARCH 3, 1891. 

Sec. 2. That an act to provide for the sale of 
desert lands in certain States and Territories, ap¬ 
proved March third, eighteen hundred and seventy- 
seven, is hereby amended by adding- thereto the fol¬ 
lowing sections: 

Sec. 4. That at the time of filing the declara¬ 
tion hereinbefore required the party shall also file 
a map of said land, which shall exhibit a plan show¬ 
ing the mode of contemplated irrigation, and which 
plan shall be sufficient to thoroughly irrigate and re¬ 
claim said land, and prepare to raise ordinary agri¬ 
cultural crops, and shall also show the source of the 
water to be used for irrigation and reclamation. 
Persons entering or proposing to enter separate sec¬ 
tions or fractional parts of sections, of desert lands 
may associate together in the construction of canals 
and ditches for irrigating and reclaiming all of said 
tracts, and may file a joint map or maps showing 
their plan of internal improvements.” 

Sec. 5. That no land shall be patented to any per¬ 
son under this act unless he or his assignors shall 
have expended in the necessary irrigation, reclama¬ 
tion, and cultivation thereof, by means of main ca¬ 
nals and branch ditches, and in permanent improve¬ 
ments upon the land, and in the purchase of water 
rights for the irrigation of the same, at least three 
dollars per acre of whole tract reclaimed and pat¬ 
ented in the manner following: Within one year 
after making entry for such tract of desert land as 
afoesaid, the party so entering shall expend not less 
than one dollar per acre for the purposes 
aforesaid, and he shall in like manner 
expend the sum of one .dollar per acre during the sec¬ 
ond and also during the third year thereafter, until 
the full sum of three dollars per acre is so expended. 
Said party shall file during each year with the regis¬ 
ter, proof, by the affidavits of two or more credible 
witnesses, that the full sum of one dollar per acre 
has been expended in such necessary improvements 







6 


PUBLIC LAND. 


during such year, and the manner in which expended, 
and at the exipration of the tliird year a map or plan 
showing the character and extent of such improve¬ 
ments. If any party who has made such application 
shall fail during any year to file the testimony afore¬ 
said, the lands shall revert to the United States and 
the twenty-five cents advanced payment shall be for¬ 
feited to the United States and the entry shall be 
canceled. Nothing herein contained shall prevent a 
claimant from making his final entry and receiving 
his patent at an earlier date than hereinbefore pre¬ 
scribed, provided that he then makes the required 
proof of reclamation to the aggregate extent of three 
dollars per acre: PROVIDED,, That proof be 
further required of the cultivation of one-eighth of 
the land. 

Sec. 6. That this act shall not affect any valid 
rights heretofore accrued under said act of March 
third, eighteen hundred and seventy-seven, but all 
bona fide claims heretofore lawfully initiated may be 
perfected, upon due compliance with the provisions 
of said act, in the same manner, upon the same terms 
and conditions, and subject to the same limitations, 
forfeitures, and contests as if this act had not been 
passed; or said claims, at the option of the claimant, 
may be perfected and patented under the provisions 
of said act, as amended by this act, so far as applica¬ 
ble; and all acts and parts of acts in conflict with this 
act are hereby repealed. 

Sec. 7. That at any time after filing the declara¬ 
tion, and within the period of four years thereafter, 
upon making satisfactory proof to the register and 
the receiver of the reclamation and cultication of 
said land to the extent and cost and in the manner 
aforesaid, and substantially in accordance with the 
plans herein provided for and that he or she is a citi¬ 
zen of the United States, and upon payment to the 
receiver of the additional sum of one dollar per acre 
for said land, a patent shall be issued therefor to the 
applicant or his assigns; but no person or associa¬ 
tion of persons shall hold, by assignment or other¬ 
wise prior to the issue of patent, more than three 
hundred twenty acres of such arid or desert lands; 
but this section shall not apply to entries made or 
initiated prior to the approval of this act: PRO¬ 
VIDED, HOWEVER, That additional proofs 
may be required at any time within the period pre¬ 
scribed by law, and that the claims or entries made 
under this or any preceding act shall be subject to 
contest, as provided by the law relating to home¬ 
stead cases, for illegal inception, abandonment, 01- 
failure to comply with the requirements of law., and 


upon satisfactory proof thereof shall be conceled, and 
the lands and moneys paid therefor shall be forfeited 
to the United States. 

Sec 8. That the provisions of the act to which 
this is an amendment, and the amendments thereto, 
shall apply to and be in force in the State of Colorado, 
as well as the States named in the original act; and 
no person shall be entitled to make entry of desert 
land except he be a resident citizen of the State or 
Territory in which the Land sought to be entered is 
located.” 


MISCELLANY. 


ANSWERS TO SUBSCRIBERS. 

Under this head complete answers will be given 
to subscribers’ questions concerning the public land 
of the United States. Name and address of each 
subscriber must be given with letter asking the 
question. 


W. L. M., Denver, Colo. 

Will you kindly decide the following contention. 
A states that the desert land law does not apply to 
Colorado; B insists that it does and that a party 
can acquire 320 acres under that law; which is 
right? 

Ans. B is right, the original act of March 3, 1877 
(19 Stat., 377) did not include Colorado, but the 
Act of March 3, 1891 which amended the original, 
law and made other provisions concerning it, also in¬ 
cluded Colorado within its provisions. See Desert 
Land Law and 'Sec. 2 of Act of March 3, 1891 
under LAND LAWS AND DECISIONS, page 5. 


J. M. W., California. 

Does the Desert Land Law apply in Idaho and 
■what amount of land can be taken under it. 

Ans. Yes, it applies to Idaho and as much as 320 
acres of land of the proper character, can be acquired 
under that law. 

See Desert Land Law, under LAND LAWS 
AND DECISIONS, page 5. 


R. M. L., Helena, Mont.: Is there any other rea¬ 
son that may be offered by which a minor will be 
permitted to make homestead entry than that he is 
the head of a famjly? Answer: Yes, 14 days of 
actual service in the army or navy of the United 
States will answer the same purpose. 












PUBLIC LAND, 


7 


(Continued from Page 2.) 

est Reservations, the value of the improvements on 
land relinquished to the Government. This bill pro¬ 
vides for all those within reservations already cre¬ 
ated, and such as may hereafter be created and does 
not affect the right to select lands in lieu of those 
relinquished. 

H. R. 173—Provides for the repayment to the ap¬ 
plicant of all moneys paid on entries which were 
cancelled for conflict, or “where from any couse the 
entry has been erroneously allowed and cannot be 
confirmed" as will as where there has been an.over* 
cl arge in any way. 


H. R. 222-—Restricts ..the selection of all lands 
under the Forest Reserve lieu selection law to lands 
of like character and specifically eliminates all land 
valuable for mineral, and authorizes the Secretary 
of the Interior to require proof that the lands relin¬ 
quished are as valuable as those selected. 


H. R. 227—Amends the Act of May 14, 1898, and 
allows 160 acres under the homestead law to settlers 
in Alaska, instead of eighty acres, as was authorized 
under the act sought to be amended. 

H. R. 228—Provides for the appraisal of the im¬ 
provements of all settlers within Forest Reserves 
who may wish to make lieu selections and permits 
them to locate sufficient land at $1.25 per acre to 
make an amount equivalent to the appraised value of 
such relinquished improvements, of land contiguous 
to such selection. 

H. R. 230—Provides for the relief of any settler 
who through ignorance or unavoidable accident 
failed to place his claim of record within the time re¬ 
quired by law and the regulations concerning the cre¬ 
ation of any Forest Reserve, who shows, due compli¬ 
ance with the law in the matter of residence, etc. 

H. R. 231—Amends the Timber and Stone Law 
so as to include the district of Alaska. 


WE WANT TO KNOW. 

Under this head the publishers will ask a number 
of questions each week, and invite answers to them 
by any of our readers who may be interested in the 
development of their districts. We wish it distinct¬ 
ly understood that the answers must be composed of 
facts, wholly freed from all fiction, and based upon 
the personal knowledge of the person answering 
the question. As an evidence of good faith always 


give full name and postoffice, but not for publication. 

The full names and correct address of twenty- 
live heads of families who wish to organize and es¬ 
tablish a colony on Government land. State also 
their nationality if of foreign birth; what 'they wish 
to use the land for (aside from making their home) 
whether several members of the colony would pre¬ 
fer buying railroad or other deeded land adjoining 
or near their homesteads, and what amount of it they 
would need and the amount of money each party 
would wish to spend for the purpose of building and 
other improvements. If the purpose was to confine 
the settlement to a particular religious organization, 
state the denomination. 

One year’s subscription will be added to the credit 
of any subscriber who furnishes us absolutely cor¬ 
rect answers to any of the above questions. 

UTE INDIAN RESERVATION. 

The formation of new irrigation companies and 
the construction of new irrigating canals in Rio 
Blanco county has revived the interest in the Ute 
Indian Reservation in the State of California. Set¬ 
tlers are taking up the lands more rapidly than they 
have ever yet done. The treaty made with the Ute 
Indians by which they vacated their unalloted lands, 
required that such lands should only be disposed of 
under preemption laws. The homestead law does 
not apply therefore on this Reservation. 

Much of the land however, has been entered under 
the desert land law; as that also rquires a cash pay¬ 
ment of $1.25 per acre. The full text of that law 
will be found on page 5 of this issue. 

(Contimrd from Page /.) 

and the best evidence of this would be the ability to 
stand an educational test such as is required of our 
ye ung men and women when they present them¬ 
selves for employment in the different business in¬ 
stitutions. It is the height of folly to spend millions 
of dollars in the education of our youth in fitting 
them for the battle of life and at the same time ad¬ 
mitting without restriction a stream of competitors 
against whom they must fight in order to exist and 
which competitors by reason of fewer qualifications 
must keep the wage scale at a point where little more 
than a bare existence is realized from long and ar¬ 
duous hours of labor. Let us give the boys and girls 
a liberal education and require a like fitness from 
every person who crosses the nation’s threshold here¬ 
after, to enter into competition with them. 

























DEC 30 


8 


PUBLIC LAND. 


Land Offices and Officers of the United States. 


E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior Department, Washington, D C- 
Binger Hermann, Commissioner General Land Office, Washington, D. C 


Alabama— 

Huntsville. 

Montgomery. 

Alaska— 

Rampart. 

Sitka. 

St. Michael. 

Arizona— 

Prescott. 

Tucson. 

Arkansas— 

Camden. 

Dardanelle. 

Harrison. 

Little Rock. 

California— 

Eureka. 

Independence. 

Los Angeles. 

Marysville. 

Redding. 

Sacraemnto. 

San Francisco ... 

Stockton. 

Susanville. 

Visalia. 

Colorado— 

Akron. 

Del Norte. 

Denver. 

Durango. 

Gunnison. 

Glenwood Springs 

Hugo. 

Leadville. 

Lamar. 

Montrose. 

Pueblo. 

Sterling. 

Florida— 

Gainesville. 

Idaho— 

Blackfoot. 

Boise. 

Coeur d’Alene.... 

Hailey. 

Lewiston. 

Iowa— 

Des Moines. 

Kansas— 

Colby. 

Dodge City. 

Topeka. 

Wakeeny. 

Louisiana— 

Natchitoches. 

New Orleans. 

Michigan— 

Marquette. 

Minnesota— 

Crookston. 

Duluth. 

Marshall. 

St. Cloud. 

Mississippi— 

Jackson. 

Missouri— 

Boonville. 

Ironton. 

Springfield.. 

Montana— 
Bozeman. 


REGISTER. 

John A. Steele.... 
Robert Barker.... 

P. M. Nullen. 

John W. Dudley. 
Franklin Moses... 

Fredrick A. Tritle, Jr.. 
Milton R. Moor©. 

Charles T. Duke.,i_ 

Joseph H. Battenfteld.. 
John I. Worthington... 
Harry H. Myers. 

Henry A. Olesten. 

Stafford W. Austin... 
Angus J. Crookshank. 

Frank W. Johnson_ 

Frank M. Swasey. 

Thomas Fraser. 

Aaron B. Hunt. 

John D. Maxey. 

Thomas S. Roseberry. 
Geo. W. Stewart.. 

Peter Campbell. 

James H. Baxter. 

Charles D. Ford. 

Fredrick C. Perkins... 

Melvin A. Deering. 

John F. Squire. 

Lon E. Foote. 

Wat T. Beall. 

Willia mA. Merrill. 

James A. Layton. 

John R. Gordon. 

David C. Fleming. 

Walter G. Robinson... 

Lorenzo R- Thomas... 

James King. 

David H. Budlong- 

Neal J. Sharp. 

John B. West. 

Thornton S. Howard.. 

Kleber E. Wilcockson. 

Thomas A. Scates. 

George W. Fisher. 

Isaac T. Purcell. 

J. Ernest Breda. 

Walter L. Cohen. 

Thomas Scadden. 

Sylvester Peterson.... 
William E. Culkin.... 

Cyrus P. Shepard. 

Myron D. Taylor. 

James Hill. 

William H. Martin .... 5 

George Steel. 

Martin V. Gideon 

Albert L. Love 


RECEIVER. 
Herschel V. Cashin. 
John C. Leftwich. 

Wm. R. Edwards. 
Albert J. Apperson. 
Albert E. Rose. 

John C. Martin. 

John H. Bauman. 

Edward A. Shicker. 
John G. Chitwood. 
Felix S. Baker. 

John E. Bush. 

James F. Thompson. 
Frank E. Densmore. 
Arthur W. Kinney. 
Henry Malloch. 

Lloyd L. Carter. 
William A. Newcum 
Sargent S. Mortin. 
George A. McKenzie. 
Alfred H. Taylor. 
Othello Scribner. 

George W. Warner. 
Peter F. Barclay. 
Benjamin K Kimberly 
Daniel L. Sheets. 

Miss Martha C. Brown 
James W. Ross. 

John P. Dickinson. 
Fred Butler. 

C. Frost Liggett. 

John E. Pelton. 

John J. Lambert. 
Charles B. Timberlake 

Henry S. Chubb. 

George B. Rogers. 
Edward E. Garrett. 
Charles D. Warner. 
Wm. A. Hodgman. 
Charles H. Garby. 

Stephen J. Loughran. 

Cyrus Anderson. 

Lewis J. Pettijohn. 
Rudolph B. Welch. 
Frank W. King 

Charles J. Greene. 
Charles P. Johnston. 

John Jones. 

August F. George. 

Jay M. Smith. 
Christopher F. Case. 
Alva Eastman. 

George E. Matthews. 

Herman Schmidt. 

C. Sanford Russell. 
George A. Ramsey. 

Andrew J. Edsall. 


Helena. j Georg® D. Greene., 

Frank H. Nash.... 
Edward Brassey... 

Samuel Gordon. 

Elmer E. Hershey. 


Fred M. Dorrington... 

James Whitehead. 

Joseph W. Johnson... 
Francis M. Rathbun.. 

George E. French. 

Stephen J. Weekes_ 

Robley D. Harris. 

James C. Pettijohn_ 

Oliver H. Gallup.... 


Edward W. Fox. 
Emil Solignac.... 
Howard Leland.. 
Manuel R. Otero. 


Alex. C. McGillivray.. 

Ole Serumgard. 

Charles N. Valentine. 

Ernest H. Kent. 

Thomas E. Olsgard... 

Robert A. Cameron... 


Kalispell 

Lewistown. 

Miles City. 

Missoula. 

Nebraska— 

Alliance. 

Broken Bow. 

Lincoln. 

McCook. 

North Platte. 

O’Neill. 

Sidney. 

Valentine. 

Nevada— 

Carson City. 

New Mexico— 

Clayton. 

Las Cruces. 

Roswell. 

Santa Fe. 

North Dakota— 

Bismarck. 

Devil’s Lake. 

Fargo. 

Grand Foras. 

Minot. 

Oklahoma— 

Alva. 

♦El Reno. 

Enid. 

Guthrie. 

Kingfisher. 

♦Lawton. 

Mangum. 

Oklahoma. 

Perry. 

Woodward. 

Oregon— 

Burns. 

La Grande.. 

Lakeview. 

Oregon City. 

Roseburg. 

The Dalles. 

South Dakota— 

Aberdeen. 

Chamberlain. 

Huron. 

Mitchell. 

Pierre. 

Rapid City. 

Watertown. 

Utah- 

Salt Lake City... 

Washington— 

North Yakima.... 

Olympia. 

Seattle. 

Spokane. 

Vancouver. 

Walla Walla. 

Waterville. 

Wisconsin— 

Ashland. 

Eau Claire. 

Wausau. 

Wyoming— 

Buffalo. Prince A. Gatchell_ 

Cheyenne. William E. Chaplin'.. 

Evanston. .Charles Kingston 

Douglas. 1 Albert D. Chamberlain. 

Lander. William T. Adams.... 

Sundance. Alpha E. Hoyt___ 


James B. Cullison... 

John Boles. 

Emory D. Brownlee. 
Henry D. McNight. 

John A. Trotter. 

Seymour S. Price_ 

Alfred H. Boles. 

Frank D. Healy. 


George W. Hayes_ 

Edward W. Bartlett... 
Eldon M. Brattain.. 
Charles B. Moores.. 
Joseph T. Bridges... 
Jay P. Lucas.. 


John S. Vetter. 

William V. Lucas_ 

Charles A. Blake. 

George E. Foster. 

Albert Wheelon. 

George P. Bennett_ 

Lee Stover. 


Frank D. Hobbs. 


Walter J. Reed. 

Frank G. Deckebach. 
Edward P. Tremper.. 

William H. Ludden_ 

William R. Dunbar... 

John M. Hill. 

Matthew B. Malloy.... 


August Doenitz. 

Alfred Cypreansen.... 
John W. Miller. 


John Horsky. 

William C. W r hipps. 
Louis W. Eldridge. 
James M. Rhoades. 
William O. Ranft. 

William R. Akers. 
Prank H. Young. 
Thomas P. Kennard. 
Joel A. Piper. 

Prank Bacon. 

I). Clem Denver.mu, 

James L.McIntosh, Jr 
Albert L. Towle. 

David H. Hall. 

Albert W. Thompson. 
Henry D. Bowman. 
David L. Geyer. 
Edward F. Hobart. 

John Satterlund. 
Henry E. Baird. 
DeWitt C. Tufts. 
Christian L. Lindstrom 
Abner . Hanscom. 

William J. French. 


David W. Eastman. 
Fredrick E. McKinley. 
Jacob V. Admire. 

Tames I). Maguire. 

John A. Olfphant. 
Anton H. Classen. 

Joel R. Scott. 

John W. Miller. 

Charles Newell. 
Samuel O. Swackhamer 
Harry Bailey. 

William Galloway. 
James H. Booth. 

Otis Patterson. 

Frank A. Brown. 
Charles L. Brockway. 
John Westdahl. 
Thomas C. Burns. 
Henry E. Cutting. 
William S. Warner. 
George W. Case. 

George A. Smith. 

Miles Cannon. 

John O’B. Scobey. 
Columbus T. Tyler. 
Samuel A. Wells. 

Lynn B. Clough. 
Thomas Mosgrove. 
Lucien E. Kellog. 

Duportal G. Sampson 
Alexander Meggett. 

Henry G. McCrossen. 

Ephraim H. Smock. 
Edward A. Slack. 
Frank M. Foote. 
Merris C. Barrow. 

Mrs. Minnie Williams. 
Samuel A. Young. 


♦ Officers that have just been established to accomodate the business 
from the Kiowa and Comanche reservations. 


rr inf* Aff/tt* ncw Opportunities for Vou and 

XjIUV Ullvl© your friends. « « * » « 

For a limited time “PUBLIC LAND” will be sent to five 
different addresses when sent in by one person for five dollars. 
Each issue of “PUBLIC LAND” will contain more of value 
to the subscriber interested in public laud matters than the full 
price of the year’s subscription. Some will receive a hundred 
times more. Get your friends to subscribe now. Send all re¬ 
mittances whenever possible by Post Office or Express Money 
Order, made payable to “PUBLIC LAND.” 

Office 124-25 Auditorium Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


400 HOMESTEAD CLAIMS IN ADAMS 
COUNTY, STATE OF WASHINGTON. 

We have a Blue Print Map showing the exact 
location of all the vacant land in that part of Adams 
county, state of Washington, that is within the Spo¬ 
kane Falls district, which is corrected up to date, 
that we will give to every club raiser who sends us 
in ten paid yearly subscribers at one dollar each. The 
regular price of the map is $2.50. 


































































































































































































































ADVERTISEMENTS. 


FRED’K J. H0AGIA2TD, 


Attorney at Law, 


ODESSA, 


WASHINGTON. 


J. W. MARSHALL, 
Attorney at Law. 


Practice In all the Court*. 


Wi Auditorium 61k.. SPOKANE, WASH. 

100,000 Acres Vacant Govern¬ 
ment Land in Lincoln County 
Washington. 

Get a “PUBLIC LAND ” blue print 
map of Lincoln County, Washington. It 
^hows you the exact description of over 

100,000 ACRES OF VA¬ 
CANT GOVERNMENT 

Land in the famous “Big Bend” country. 
It is corrected up to date of purchase, is 
made“'from the Land Office records, is 
absolutely correct and shows all the va¬ 
cant land in Lincoln County. Sent by 
mail on receipt of $2.50, address 

PUBLIC LAND” 

124-125 Auditorium Bldg. 
SPOKANB, WASHINGTON. 


C I 


“Public Land” 

lias made several of its readers over 

$500 

By bringing opportunities to their 
notice which they would not have 
learned in any other way. There 
are many more of these- 


$500 

pieces in store for those who read 

“Public Land” 


ATTEND THE 

Puget Sound Business College 

for a practical, up-to-date business course. 
Bookkeeping, penmanship, stenography 
and typewriting. Send ten cents for sam¬ 
ple dozen cards and how you can earn 
some money during spare time. Address 
D. M. KNAUP, Principal, 903 Yakima are., 
Tacoma. Wash. 


0. W. KENNEDY, 
Livery Stable*, 


Gentle Driving Horses. Good Drivers to 
show you the land you want to tee. 
Everything first elasa. 


ODESSA, 


WASHINGTON. 


DOUGLAS HOTEL, 
William Newlove, Prop., 


AMERICAN PLAN. 

*1.09 and 31.60 Per Day. 
Prompt, Neat, Clean Service. 


WILSON CREEK, 


WASHINGTON. 


WILSON CREEK LIVERY STABLE 
R. J. Armstrong, Prop. 


GOOD HORSES, GOOD RIGS, GOOD 
DRIVERS, FIRST CLASS 
SERVICE. 


WILSON CREEK, 


WASHINGTON. 


CLAIR HUNT, 

Civil Ensgineer 
U. S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor. 

B0SSBURG, - - WASHINGTON. 


INLAND PRINTING COMPANY, 

610-612 Sprague Aye. 

Print Anything. Try us with your 
next order. 

It will save you money. 


M. L. SCHERMERH0RN, 
United States Commissioner 


There’i lots *f good Vacant Agricultural Laud 
tributary to 


LIND, 


WASHINGTON 


WENTWORTH CLOTHING GO. 

Reliable Mens’ and 
Boys’ Outfitters. 

709-11 Riverside Ave. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 


J. W. MeCUNE, 

Farm and City Property For Sale 
or Exchange. 

MONEY TO LOAN. 

7-8 Sherwood Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


JOHN MeDOWELL, 

united States Commissioner and 
Justice of the Peace. 


Gold Butte, Mont. 


h; S. Swenson, Clyde C. Henion, 

United States Commissioner. Notary Public* 

SWENSON & HENION, 

Timber and Agricultural Rands. Homestead 
and timber locations. Agents townsite of New¬ 
port. 

Publishers of NEWPORT MINER, Ji.so.’per year. 
NEWPORT, WASHINGTON. 


PIANOS 

Being the only dealer in 
Spokane who buys direct 
from the manufacturer in 
carload lots, and for cash 
only, I am in a position 
to save you money if you 
want a piano.- 

AUGUST MEYER 

919 Riverside Ave. 


01 


A fine Blue Print Map of that part of 
Adams County, which is in the 
Spokane Falls, Washington Land 
District, comprising thirty-two town¬ 
ships and showing all the vacnat land 
in each township and corrected up 
to date will be sent by mail on re¬ 
ceipt of price—$2.50. Address 

“PUBLIC LAND” 

124-125 Auditorium Bldg. 

SPOKANB. WA8HINOTON. 










































* 


Walton & Goodsell, Land Attorneys f 


Leave of absence from your Homestead. Applications to 
amend your Homstead and making of all papers pertaining to 
Public Lands. Contests, protests and other bearings before 
any U. S. Land Office. The Commissioner of the General 
Land Office and the Interior Department. Mining Applica¬ 
tions. Military Bounty Land Warrants. Forest Reserve, 
Soldier’s Additional Homestead, and all other Land Scrips 
bought and sold. We can get your tangles straightened with¬ 
out your coming to the office 


Office Rooms 124-25 Auditorium Block, Phone Main 369 


pokane, Washington^ 





This will introduce the Northwestern Busi- 
College to the readers of Public Land. The 
purpose of this advertisement is to induce the 
public to investigate the merits of the institution, 
MERIT we build. 


United States records for 
Service and Bookkeeping. 

COURSES OF STUDY. 

and Typewriting, Civil Service, Busi- 
Normal, and Telegraphy. 

detailed information call at the office or 
catalogue. 

E. H. THOMPSON, Principal 

SPOKANE, WASH. 


























SR !i'S» 


yCor< 


BEctivf.o I 


IAN. 6 

Copyright 

LASS 


1902 1 

ENTRY l 


XXo. No 


z%r //omm/r£/?/5 r#£ mop£ of rz/f/y/nm 







PUBLISHED 

° WEEKLY. 


DEVOTED TO THOSE 
INTERESTED IIW 
e pvbuc lauds 
or ^ 

THE VMITED STATES 




$1.50 PER YEAR 
ADVAHCE. 

7fflj7Zfr77/f/Zi7S///tf/^ 





CONT 

Editorial — 

The Grazing Land Bill. i 

A Mis-Statement. i 

Current Topics— 

The State of Wisconsin. 2 

Henderson County, Kentucky . . 2 

The State Auditor. .. 2 

Marshall County, S. D. 2 

At a Council. 2 

The National Imigration Bill.. . 2 

Minerals and Timber— 

The Most Rapid Rise. 3 

The John Day Camp.3 

The Sierra del Pasco . 3 

The Washington Alaska Assn. . 3 

ENTS. j 

New Opportunities — 

Chippewa Indian Reservation ... 4 
Douglas County, Washington .. 4 
Sherman County, Ore., Settlers.. 4 

Land Laws and Decisions — 

Eight Months Actual Residence 5 
Sufficient for Commutation Proof 5 

Miscellany — 

Answers to Subscribers . 6 

Personls . 6 

Land Laws — Con . 6 

Little Bristles . 7 

Editorial — Con . 7 

Land Offices and Officers of the 

United States (corrected) .... 8 

1 
















































ADVERTISEMENTS 


T. D. HASTIE, 

Attorney at Law, 

IT. S. Court Commissioner. 

Homestead Filing's and Final Proofs. 
OROFINO, ^ IDAHO. 

ROLLIN J. BEEVES, 


United States Commissioner, 


WILBUR, WASHINGTON. 

SIDNEY MODE HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

In and for District of Washington. 


HOQUIAM, WASHINGTON. 

A. B. SWANSON, 

United States Commissioner, 


Notary Public, Loans 
and Collections—Conveyancer 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 

GUMMING BROS. & POWELL, 
Choice Timber and Homestead Loca¬ 
tions on Government Land. 

TIMBER CRUISED AND ESTIMATES GIVEN 

Fruit, grazing and ranch lands and pins and 
cedar timber for sale. 

801tf Riverside Ave. SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 

LAND SCRIP 

—-FOR-- 


UNITED STATES COMMISSIONERS 


ALABAMA 

ELLIOTT G. RICKARBY, 

United States Commissioner 

86 St. Michaels St., MOBILE 

COLORADO 

H. A. WILDHACK, 

United States Commissioner 

MEEKER 

IDAHO 

JAMES DeHAVEN, 

United States Commissioner 

GRANGEVILLE 

T. D. HASTIE, 

United States Commissioner 

OROFINO 

ILLINOIS. 

simeonTw. king, 

United States Commissioner 

Room 941, Monadnock Block, CHICAGO 

MONTANA 

john mcdowell, 

United States Commissoner 

GOLD BUTTE 

WASHINGTON 

A. R. SWANSON, 

United States Commissoner 

WILSON CREEK 

SIDNEY MOOR HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

HOQUIAM 

ROLLIN J. REEAVES, 

United States Commissioner 

WILBUR 

J. W. MARSHALL, 

Attorney and United States Commissoner 

Auditorium, SPOKANE 

M. L. SCHERMERHORN, 

United States Commissioner 

LIND 

H. S. SWENSON, 

United States Commissioner 

NEWPORT 

WYOMING. 

ORIN HTWOODS, 

United States Commissioner 

BASIN 


HOMES FOB THE HOMESEEKEBS 

LANDS FOR THE LANDLESS. 

We hare a large list of the choicest 
farming lands in the Big Bend and 
throughout the Inland Empire. Improved 
farms $15 to $20 per acre. This Is the sec¬ 
tion that produces 30,000,000 bushels of 
wheat per annum. Fine fruit; no failures; 
ideal climate. Money placed for non-resi¬ 
dents on first mortgages on first class 
land. Trantum & Schoonover. Odessa,Wa. 


JNO. JAS. GRAVES, 


Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, 
Conveyancer, Beal Estate, 


MEYERS FALLS, WASHINGTON. 


J. B. ZIEGLER, 

Notary Public, Beal Estate and Fir* 
Insurance Agent. 


IMPROVED FARM LANDS, RAW 
LANDS AND TOWN PROPER¬ 
TIES FOR SALE. 


Prices and Terms will be Furnished 
Promptly. 


Office on First Avenue. 


ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 



Quickly secured. CUE FEE DUE WHEN PATENT 
OBTAINED. Send model, sketch or photo, with 
description for free report as to patentability. 48 -PAGE 
HAND-BOOK FREE. Contains references and full 
information. WRITE FOR COPY OF OUR SPECIAL 
OFFER. It is the moat liberal proposition ever made by 
a patent attorney, and EVERY INVENTOR SHOULD 
READ IT before applying for patent. Address: 

H.B.ViiLLSON&CO. 

PATENT LAWYERS, 

L* Droit Blog., WASHINGTON, D. C. 

n—ir.. mn r fthot— 


Free Homesteads. 


Snrveyed or Unsurveyed 

Government Laud, lowest prices, 
and quick delivery. We also 
have some choice saw mill loca¬ 
tions, and timber lands in white 
pine belt of Northern Idaho. 

New Northwestern Lumber Co 

62-63 Jtnsssn Block. 


C. H, HOLDEN, 


Attorney at Law. 


Cholee timber lands In large or small 
tracts. Timber land cruised and estimates 
given. Government lands located. Fruit 
lands. Ranch land. Gracing land for sale. 
Climate unsurpassed; no cold, no heat, 
lands, ranch land, grazing land for sale, 
no cyclones. Correspondence solicited. 


There are over 100 good quarter sections with 
in short distance of the Great Northern Railroad 
that are subject to homestead entry, the same 
kind of land that produced 40 bushels of wheat 
to the acre this year. We have an accurate 
knowledge of these vacant tracts and will locate 
desirable parties on them at very reasonable 
rates. Call on 


H. E. STONE, 

With O. W. Stone Undertaking Co. 


SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


FLORENCE, OREGON. 


ODESSA, WASHINGTON 




















































PUBLIC LAND. 


M£//Off£, 77 Mf/? /J TtffHOP£ Of £//£#/! 7 / 0 /X 



Offices 124-125 Auditorium Bldg., 

Spokane, Wash. 

ADVERTISING IJATES ON 

APPLICATION. 


Entered at Spokane, Wash., as Second Class Mail Matter. 


Copyrighted 1901 by Walton it Goodsell. 


Yol. 1. Spokane, Wash , Dec. 31,1901. No. 20. 


THE GRAZING LAND BILL. 

The Grazing- Land Bill providing for the sale of 
lands ONLY fit for grazing purposes in quantities 
of not exceeding 320 acres is meeting with some 
opposition in the State of Washington. It seems 
that the gentlemen who are opposed to the bill are 
afraid that the land will pass into the hands of the 
sheepmen whom they claim have purchased large 
(luantites of railroad land. There are many reasons 
why this, fear is without foundation, chief among 
them is the authority conferred upon the Interior 
Department to provide the necessary rules and regu¬ 
lations to prevent speculative entries under the law. 
Another reason is the existence of the Act of May 
14, 1880, which gives to all contestants the prefer¬ 

ence right of entry to lands within any pre-emption 
entry which may he canceled as a result of their con¬ 
test. The taking of land under this law, except for 
his own use and benefit would be open to question for 
four years from the date of entry, and if it was a fact 
that the land was not of the character contemplated 
by this bill, or if it was made for speculative pur¬ 
poses, the general public would have abundant oppo¬ 
sition for calling it in question. The natural jeal¬ 
ousy existing between the cattlemen and farmers in 
every locality against the sheepmen is of itself suffi¬ 
cient guarantee that the law will not be abused in a 
great many cases. The bloody wars, destruction of 
thousands of dollars worth of property and loss of 
many lives, the direct result of the feuds between the 
cattle and sheepmen, demands that some action look¬ 


ing to the disposal of these grazing lands, 'be had and 
at once. While it is obviously not the intention 
of those objecting to the bill to have these disgrace- 
mi affairs continue, they are nevertheless arguing 
for a course of procedure which will only bring that 
result. It is a well known fact that the sheepmen 
or cattlemen for that matter do not operate on a 
small tract of land, and those who are annually de¬ 
stroying the ranges are those who have several thou¬ 
sand head of stock and having no interest in the 
land, do not care whether the natural growth is 
killed or not. The operations of this bill will break 
up the ranges and prevent the sweeping destruction 
of the wild grasses, that is visited annually upon 
nearly every public range in the United States at the 
present time. The operation of this law would re¬ 
sult in an increased production of live stock by mak¬ 
ing it possible for the farmer to care for a greater 
number. There are hundreds of farmers who do not 
keep more than a cow or two and some not even that 
many, simply because they do not own or control 
any grazing land which they can enclose. They can¬ 
not afford to turn a few head of stock loose in the 
open ranges as the time necessarily spent in looking 
after them would more than over-balance the profits 
resulting from their sale. To allow these lands to 
lie open and at the mercy of the large herders, serves 
only to destroy the range and benefit the very men 
which the opponents to the bill claim to be fighting. 
The passage of the bill will prevent a repetition of 
the bloody range wars, will protect and assist the 
bona fide settlers, will inspire the building of homes, 
result in the expenditure of thousands of dollars for 
fencing and millions to the taxable property of each 
State that has the privilege of a law similar to that 
outlined in H. R. 226. 


A MIS-STATEMENT. 

The Loomis Register is mistaken in stating that 
Congressman Jones has introduced a land leasing- 
bill and that his purpose in doing so is prompted by 
a desire to give the cattle men control of the public 
ranges. 

Mr. Jones introduced H. R. No. 226, which pro¬ 
vides for the SALE of as much as 320 acres of land 
that IS ONLY fit for grazing purposes to the actual 
owners of adjoining lands in the 'State of Washing¬ 
ton. He has frankly submitted the bill to the leading- 
papers of the State and to the leading citizens and 
invited their impartial consideration of the proposed 

(Continued on Page 7.) 



































2 


PUBLIC LAND. 


CURRENT TOPICS. 


THE STATE OF WISCONSIN received $195,- 
255.47 from its land sales during the year just 
ended and still has about 400,000 acres left for dis¬ 
posal. i 


HENDERSON COUNTY, KENTUCKY is 
urging the acceptance 'by the Government of a tract 
of twenty thousand acres of its land for Military 
purposes. The Government is reported as being in 
need of a large tract for a Military ground in that 
State. . 


THE STATE AUDITOR of Minnesota has had 
a representative at Washington for several days 
urging the introduction and passage of a bill pro¬ 
viding an appropriation f or the survey of all the un¬ 
surveyed Government lands in the northern part of 
the State. 


MARSHALL COUNTY, South Dakota, has an 
old Military Reservation containing 87,000 acres 
which belongs to the State and which is one big pas¬ 
ture, being leased for grazing purposes and is there¬ 
fore under fence. The settlement of the country is 
seriously interfered with, owing to the obstruction 
in the form of this big pasture fence, and a delega¬ 
tion of her prominent citizens are now before the 
State land board at Pierre, urging the sale of the 
lands to actual settlers. In this way the double pur¬ 
pose of settling up this and the adjacent lands, and 
also of bringing a large sum of money into the school 
and general funds of the State is served. 

AT A COUNCIL held last month on the Uintah 
Indian Reservation in Utah for the purpose of giv¬ 
ing the Florence Mining Company the right to ex¬ 
plore and prospect the reservation for mineral, it de¬ 
veloped that the Indians were anxious to dispose of 
their lands to the Government to be thrown open to 
settlement, providing they were paid for it. Fol¬ 
lowing this council, final argument was held in 
Washington to hear objections to allowing the Com¬ 
pany the right to prospect the lands and if they were 
found valuable for mineral, the Company is to be 
granted a mineral lease for not to exceed 640 acres. 
The final hearing before the Secretary of the Interior 
was attended by Senators Kearns and Rawlins, and 
Representative Sutherland. Senator Kearns stated 
as soon as lie learned of the willingness on the part 


of the Indians to have the Reservation thrown open 
•to settlement, that he would present a bill for that 
purpose at the earliest opportunity. The hearing 
was continued for ten days to allow the objectors to 
the lease, additional opportunity in which to substan¬ 
tiate their claim that the consent from the Indians 
was obtained by misrepresentation. The Honorable 
Secretary of the Interior is reported as being dis¬ 
posed to grant the lease unless more substantial 
showing is made by the objectors. 


THE NATIONAL IRRIGATION BILL is be¬ 
ing framed by the seventeen Senators and Represen¬ 
tatives from the western States who have been ap¬ 
pointed for that purpose. The chief features of the 
bill are that the proceeds from the sale of public lands 
•are to be devoted ‘to the reclamation of arid lands. 
The price of lands reclaimed is to' be increased to 
five dollars per acre, and 'each entryman restricted to 
eighty acres. All of the moneys received from the 
sale of public lands in the arid land States are to be 
set aside as a reclamation fund; examinations and 
surveys of reservoir sites and tunnel sites for the 
diversion of water and irrigation canals to be con¬ 
nected with them shall .be made; the Secretary of the 
Interior may withdraw from entry any public land 
lying under the proposed works. Whenever any of 
the irrigation projects are found to be! feasible and 
can be built for a sum, which will not exceed ten dol¬ 
lars per acre for the land irrigated, contracts are to 
be let for their construction. After the canals are 
completed, the land may be entered in eighty acre 
tracts, or less by qualified entrymen who must pay 
five dollars per acre into' the reclamation fund, be¬ 
sides certain fees to the local land officers. The fund 
so created is to be used for maintaining and operat¬ 
ing the canals and reservoirs until the land is all set¬ 
tled when it is to be turned over to- the settlers who 
must operate and maintain them. If it is found that 
there is more than sufficient water to irrigate the 
public lands, water rights may be sold for the irriga¬ 
tion of private lands at the rate of five) dollars per 
acre. The Secretary of the Interior is instructed to 
make all necessary rules and regulations for carrying 
the proposed law into effect, as well as to institute 
condemnation proceedings for lands needed in the 
construction of reservoirs, darns, and canals. 


Oklahoma is settling up very rapidly; the Gov¬ 
ernment land in western Oklahoma is nearly all gone, 
and many new towns have sprung up and are strong 
and thrifty notwithstanding their tender age . 














PUBLIC LAND, 


3 


MINERALS AND TIMBER* 


THE MOST RAPID RISE in the value of real 
estate known in the history of the country is doubt¬ 
less that of the quarter section of land near Beau¬ 
mont, Texas., which has nearly all of the famous 
wells Within its boundaries. Two years ago, twenty- 
five 'dollars per acre would have satisfied the owner 
and paid the real estate broker a liberal commission 
besides. Now the tract has an estimated value of 
$400,000,000., making it at the same time one of the 
most valuable tracts in the world. 


THE JOHN DAY CAMP in Oregon is corning 
rapidly to the front. The building of the railroad 
from Whitney to Middle Fork Covers over half the 
distance to the mines and as a result, the new prop¬ 
erties are all taking on an air of activity in view of 
the prospect of marketing their ores. The new forty 
ton smelter that has been built by Messrs. Houser 
and Rigby to treat ores from their Standard, Dixie 
and Grant claims is now ready for operation.. A 
twenty-five stamp mill has been purchased for the 
Hoos'ierboy and is. now on the road fr'om Whitney to 
the mine. The power to run this will be obtained 
from Indian and Pine Creeks. 

The Cobalt showing in the Standard Mine con¬ 
tinues strong and it is reported that the owners have 
been offered $1.50 per pound for all of this metal 
that they can produce. 


THE SIERRA DEL PASCO, copper mines of 
Peru are reported to be the richest in the world and 
were acquired by the Rothchilds about four years 
aero. The price paid was between seven and eight 
million dollars. An aerial tramway 23,000 feet long 
with a capacity for conducting 800 tons per day 
from mine to smelter has just been constructed. 
-Owing to the immense deposits, the cheapness of la¬ 
bor and the facilities for transportation, it is ex¬ 
pected that the English Company will be able to. lay 
copper down at Valpariso in twelve months at seven 
cents per pound. There is a five years deposit of 
copper ore already mined and on the dump, but 
which was not shipped owing to the difficulty of get¬ 
ting it over the rough land now covered by the 
Aerial tramway. The ledge is 'also rich m silver and 
the copper was mined for the purpose of getting out 
the silver ore. 

THE WASHINGTON-ALASKA Miners As¬ 
sociation has taken a long stride forward in advanc¬ 


ing the mining interests of the Northwest and should 
be followed by like organizations in every mining 
center in the West. The public has so frequently 
been buncoed out of large sums of money on wild cat 
propositions that it will hail with refreshing delight 
an opportunity of learining something definite con¬ 
cerning the opportunities for investment in that line 
of business. The purpose of the organization which 
is composed of the foremost business men of Seattle, 
Washington, is stated to be as follows: 

“First—To 1 acquaint the people of the State of 
Washington with the fact that there are several hun¬ 
dred mining properties in the state and in Alaska 
that contain minerals in sufficient quantities to form 
the basis of an active mining industry, which, when 
once set on foot, will benefit the entire state. 

“Secondly—While this work is going on we will 
also make our mineral resources known to the finan¬ 
cial concerns of the East and give correct informa¬ 
tion concerning the mining possibilities of this state 
and of Alaska. 

“The association is not a commercial institution. 
It will not buy or sell or 1 speculate in properties or 
stocks. Its mission is educational and it expects to 
benefit all men who are doing a legitimate business 
in the handling and developing of mining proper¬ 
ties. 

“The Association is composed of men who are 
friendly to the mining industry and the men on the 
executive committee are among the most substantial 
men of Seattle. This committee shapes the policy of 
the Association and supervises the disbursement of 
all funds that come into the treasury. They forsee 
the future for the mining industry in the Northwest 
and have enlisted to see that it is developed on right 
lines. The following is the personnel of the com¬ 
mittee: President, F. W. Mitchell, of the Mitchell, 
Lewis & Staver Co.; Vice President, Andrew Knox, 
a pioneer real estate dealer of the city; Secretary, J. 
C. Rathbun; Assistant Secretary, J. P. Hunnel, busi¬ 
ness manager of the Northwest Miner, Manufac¬ 
turer and Matallurgist; Treasurer, Isaac Hulme, of 
the Vulcan Iron Works; Ex-Senator John E. Mc¬ 
Manus, James G. Givens, H. B. Dress, C. R. Dahl 
and Van B. DeLashmut, all well known mining 
men; J. W. Kahle, manager of the Crescent Manu¬ 
facturing Company; Hon. Van R. Pierson, Mayor 
of the City of Columbia and member of the State 
Capitol Cimmission; William Van Waters, editor of 
the Mining Record, and T. F. Kane, editor of The 
Miner, Manufacturer and Metallurgist. 












4 


PUBLIC LAND, 


NEW OPPORTUNITIES. 


CHIPPEWA INDIAN RESERVATION. 

Tbe citizens of Cass Lake Minnesota, and vicinity 
are working hard to secure the) passage of the law 
opening the Chippewa Indian Reservation to settle¬ 
ment. 

This reservation is on the Mississippi River in 
the Northern part of the state, the Great Northern 
Railroad runs through the entire length of the reser¬ 
vation. These lands are heavily covered with what 
is perhaps the finest body of timber that is left in the 
state. The purpose is to get the lands opened to set¬ 
tlement under the homestead law and later to have 
the timber laws apply to the reservation. Prominent 
citizens all over that section of the state have taken 
a live interest in the matter and they are now en¬ 
gaged in bringing notice of the movement to the citi¬ 
zens of the state. Committees have been appointed 
and sent to all the principal towns and cities for the 
purpose of securing the aid and co-operation of the 
various commercial bodies, jobbers and labor unions. 
The press of the state has taken the matter up and 
there seems to be no good reason why the measure 
cannot be carried through at this session of Con¬ 
gress. 


DOUGLAS COUNTY WASHINGTON. 

In Douglas County, Washington, there are ap¬ 
proximately 650,000 acres of vacant public land sub¬ 
ject to appropriation under the general land laws of 
the United States. The land is prairie, farming and 
grazing. Many choice tracts of vacant agricultural 
land may be found in almost any part of the country. 
The heaviest settlements, during the past few weeks 
have been made in the vicinity of Wilson Creek on 
th Great Northern Railroad. 

There are a few choice claims about five miles 
south of Stratford which is eight miles west of Wil¬ 
son Creek, then as one goes farther from the railroad 
the number of opportunities increase. The Northern 
Pacific R. R. Company still owns quite a little land 
in Douglas County which sells for from seventy five 
cents per acre and up, according to the character of 
the land. The land in the vicinity of Moses Lake in 
the Southestern part of the County is being taken up 
very rapidly as large settlements are being made by 
people from Missouri and other Mississippi Valley 
States. 

The Columbia! River side of the Country around 
Wenatchee is also attracting a great number of east¬ 


ern people. The fine fruits that are growing near 
Wenatchee have been a means of nailing the atten¬ 
tion of the homeseekers, that perhaps nothing else 
would have clone. The well hilled warehouses along 
the lines of the Great Northern in Lincoln .county 
of course have had much to do with convincing the 
new comers of the productiveness of the soil and the 
advisability of making a halt. 


SHERMAN COUNTY OREGON SETTLERS. 

The settlers on the 20,000 acres of land in Sher¬ 
man County, Oregon, who appointed a committee 
to wait upon the Eastern Oregon Land Company 
have so far met with little encouragement. This 
company is the successor in interest to the lands 
within the grant to The Dalles, Military Wagon 
Road Company. The Interior Department many 
years ago declared the lands subject to appropriation 
under the settlement laws and as a result the above 
lands have been settled upon and extensively im¬ 
proved by over one hundred settlers, The Supreme 
Court recently decided that the ownership of the 
lands rests in the Eastern Oregon Land Company. 
The settlers addressed a communication to the Com¬ 
pany and sent the same to its duly authorized agent, 
requesting the Company to' set a price on the land, so 
that a bill could be introduced by the Oregon delega¬ 
tion in Congress providing for an appropriation suffi ¬ 
cient to 1 pay the land Company and allow the settlers 
to keep their lands. The Company has stated to' the 
settlers that it will not sell the land* There is one clear 
cut way out of this unfortunate situation and that 
is for Congress to make provision xor the selection 
by the Company of an equal number of acres which 
it. acquired under the grant to The Dalles Military 
Ro'ad in some other part of the state. The title to 
the land, has not passed from the Government and in 
many cases patents have been issued to the settlers. 
T he Company has i&> right to the improvements 
made by the settlers and since it has inaugurated the 
“freeze out” plan, the settlers should be allowed to 
remain in ownership and possession of the lands 
which their labor, privations and self sacrifice have 
made valuable. 


The Department of Agriculture has Prof. D. G. 
Fairchild, one of its agents, traveling in Egypt for 
tiie purpose ®f obtaining shoots from the date palm 
for planting in the dry, hot arid and semi-arid dis¬ 
tricts of the United States, in the hope that a use 
might be found for Washington Irving’s thief patch. 











PUBLIC LAND. 


5 


LAND LAWS AND DECISIONS. 


EIGHT MONTHS’ ACTUAL RESIDENCE 
SUFFICIENT FOR COMMUTATION 
PROOF , 

We are indebted to the Mitchell, South Dakota, 
Land Office for the following- decision which has re¬ 
cently been rendered by the Interior Department. 
It will be observed that the decision reverses the ac¬ 
tion of the General Land Office and sustains the ac¬ 
tion of the Local Office in their construction of the 
Commutation laws: 

“28-1184. 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, WASH- 
: INGTON. 

December 6, 1901. 

Isaac N. Fry 

v. 

Christian C. Kuper. 

TO THE COMMISSIONER OF THE GENER¬ 
AL LAND OFFICE: 

Sir: • 

Christian C. Kuper appealed from your office de¬ 
cision of August 5, 1901, holding his commutation 
proof to be prematurely made on his homestead en¬ 
try for the NW. of Sec. 27 T. 103 N., R. 48 W., 
Mitchell, South Dakota. 

December 2, 1896, Kuper made homestead entsy. 
From January 7, 1897, to December 2, 1898, the en¬ 
try was suspended. Contest proceedings were then 
instituted by Isaac N. Fry, which were dismissed by 
departmental decision of November 19, 1900, (un¬ 
reported). October 7, 1899, Kuper submitted com¬ 
mutation proof, which was 'held by the local office 
under rule 53 of practice until close of the contest. 
It appears from the commutation proof, that Ku¬ 
per claimed residence on the land only from Decem ¬ 
ber 19, 1898, to the time of final proof, a period of 
nine months and eighteen days. 

Your office decision held: 

“Commutation proof is premature when made less 
than fourteen months after actual residence on the 
land was commenced. See acts of June 3, 1896 (29 
Stat, 197). The entry-man, it appears, was misled 
by the local officers, but neither their ignorance of 
the law nor the charge of duress can cure this defect. 
In view of the facts above recited he will be allowed 
thirty days from receipt of notice to return to the 
land and complete a residence (which added to his 
former residence) will amount to fourteen months, 
after which he may submit supplemental final proof, 
and the same will be duly considered by this office. 


Kuper appealed, and cited this ruling as error. 
The argument is that a homestead entryman may 
commute his entry “after six months constructive 
residence, and eight months actual-residence.” Ci¬ 
tation is made to circular of July 9, 1896 (26 L. D., 
544), wherein it is said, respecting the act of June 3. 
1896 (29 Stat., 197). that: 

“The second section of the act modifies the pro¬ 
vision of section 2301 Revised Statutes, as amended 
by the act of March 3, 1891, supra, so as to permit 
the commutation of homestead entries upon a show¬ 
ing of fourteen mouths’ compliance with the home¬ 
stead law after the date of settlement, instead of 
after the date of entry, as formerly required. Con¬ 
structive residence from the date of entry will be re¬ 
cognized where settlement is made and residence 
-established within six months thereafter.” 

Section 2 of the act of'June 3, 1896 (29 Stat., 
1 97), provides : 

“That all commutations of homestead entries shall 
be allowed after the expiration of fourteen months 
from date of settlement.” 

Nothing in the act indicates, or justifies, a differ¬ 
ent interpretation of -it, where one commuted an 
entry after fourteen months’ compliance, from that 
given where one consummates an entry in due course 
after five years’ compliance. The Department in 
construing the act in question in the circular of July 
9, 1896 supra, gave it the construction that the four¬ 
teen months compliance of one commuting an entrv 
may be of like character as of one consummating an 
ing an entry, saying that: 

“Constructive residence from the date of the entry 
will be recognized where settlement is made and resi¬ 
dence established within six months thereafter.” 

No .decision of the Department is found holding- 
otherwise. It therefore is held that a commuting 
entry is, equally with others entitled to credit for 
constructive residence during the first six months of 
his entry. 

Is the entryman within the rule so announced? 

January 7, 1897, being not yet advised of Ruper’s 
entry, your office directed the local office to withhold 
said tract from disposition until further advised, 
which the local office received January 15, and the 
same day reported to your office Kuper’s entry. Feb ¬ 
ruary 1, 1897, William H. Fry filed an application 
for reinstatement of his previous timber culture en¬ 
try, on the ground that its cancellation was prema¬ 
ture, which was March 27, 1897, granted by your 
office, and Kuper was required, within sixty days, 
to show cause why his entry should not be canceled. 












6 


PUBLIC LAND, 


This rule was served April 2, 1897, and Kuper ap¬ 
pealed. Oct. 18, 1898 (27 L. D., 547 ), your office 
decision was reversed, Fry’s application denied, and 
Kuper’s entry held intact. December 2, 1898, Fry 
began contest against Kuper’s entry on ground 
of abandonment. The contest was dismissed on Ku ¬ 
per’s appeal to the Department, by its decision of 
November 19, 1900 (unreported), upon the ground 
that it was prematurely brought, it being held by 
said decision that Kuper’s : 

“Entry was suspended during the period from 
January 7, 1897, until the decision of the Depart¬ 
ment, October 18, 1898, denying Fry’s motion for 
reinstatement and holding Kuper’s entry intact. 

It was adjudicated that Kuper, although he did 
not establish actual residence on the tract until De¬ 
cember 19, 1898, 

“Occupied the status of a residence, on the land 
January 7, 1897, when the entry was suspended, and 
by reason of suspension was excused from actual 
residence until October 18, 1898, so that, excluding 
the time of such suspension, he established actual 
residence within six months from the date of his en¬ 
try, and that he was never in default, but in view of 
the law was continuously a resident of the land. His 
expensive and persistent assertion of right, in face of 
a contest, sufficiently attested his good faith on seek¬ 
ing the land for a home. He is therefore entitled to 
the benefit of the six months’ constructive residence. 

The heirs of Fry, the deceased contestant, also ap¬ 
pealed from your office decision, assigning as error 
therein that hearing is thereby denied upon their con¬ 
test filed January 22, 1901, alleging abandonment by 
Kuper subsequent to October 7, 1899. 

Residence subsequent to 1 final proof, found to be 
satisfactory and sufficient, is not required. 

Your office decision rejecting Kuper’s final proof 
is reversed. The papers are herewith returned. 

Yours respectfully, 

E. A. HITCHCOCK, 
Secretary. 

PERSONALS. 

Register Walter J. Reed, of the North Yakima, 
Washington Land Office reports the biggest Novem¬ 
ber business in the history of that office . 

E. W. Elrod purchased 7,000 acres of land in the 
Horse Fleaven country for the Moro Land Company 
of Mora, Oregon. 


MISCELLANY, 


ANSWERS TO SUBSCRIBERS. 

Under this head complete answers will be given 
to subscribers’ questions concerning the public land 
of the United States. Name and address of each 
subscriber must be given with letter asking the 
question. 

M. L, S. Lind, Washington: 

A. Made Homestead entry in 1900 and applied 
to amend his entry so as to include the adjoining land • 
a few days ago; B wants the land which A intends to 
drop, how can he proceed in order to prevent anyone 
else from getting the land included in A’s entry? 

Alls. This question cannot be definitely an¬ 
swered owing to several contingencies that might 
arise. We would say therefore that A established his 
residence on the land embraced within his home¬ 
stead entry prior -to his application to 1 amend, that 
B could protect his claim to th£ land by establishing 
his residence on the land after first obtaining permis¬ 
sion from A; but if A has not established his. resi¬ 
dence on the land included within his entry; then B 
could attach himself to the land by bringing a contest 
against A’s entry. In the former case if A’s appli¬ 
cation to amend was denied then B’s residence would 
avail him nothing, but if allowed, it would take ef¬ 
fect on the instant the land was eliminated from the 
entry of A. An application for land included in an 
entry of record will not save any rights for the appli¬ 
cant, and will be rejected by the Local Office for con¬ 
flict with such entry and from this rejection an ap- . 
peal would have no weight. The Commissioner’s. 
circular of July 14, 1899 to the Registers and Receiv¬ 
ers directs as follows: 

“In accordance with departmental instruction in 
the case of John Stewart v. Minnie S. Peterson (28 
L. D., 515). it is hereby directed that no application 
will be received, or any rights recognized as initiated 
by the tender of an application for a tract embraced 
in an entry of record, until said entry has been can¬ 
celed upon the records of the local office. Thereafter 
and until the period accorded a successful contestant 
has expired, or he has waived his preferred right, * * 
applications may be received, entered, and held sub¬ 
ject to the rights of the contestant, the same to be 
disposed of in the order of filing upon the expiration 
of the period accorded the successful contestant or J 
upon the filing of his waiver of his preferred right.” 










PUBLIC LAND 


7 


BRISTLES. 

Secretary Root has recommended the purchase of 
400,000 acres of land in the Philippines from the 
friars to whom it was given by the treaty of Paris. 
This land will then be re-alloted to the inhabitants 
under proper conditions. 


A colonization company of Indianapolis has pur¬ 
chased 60,000 acres of land in Archer County, Tex¬ 
as, for the purpose of settlement. Twenty-five fam¬ 
ilies have already located there and about four hun¬ 
dred more from Missouri and Indiana have com¬ 
pleted arrangements to do so at once. 


The Supreme Court has decided that the Warner’s 
Ranch Indians which have long held their present 
possessions must yield them to the white owners, 
and Agent McLaughlin of the Indian Bureau is now 
in Southern California seeking a new location for 
them. 


The Gibbs Co-Operative Colony was organized 
last week with the principal place of business at 
Gibbs, Santa Cruz County, California. The direct¬ 
ors are A. W. J, Gibbs, H. C. Johnson, A. D. J. 
Humbly, J, A. Lake, H. E. Miller. E. D. Babbitt and 
T. H. Lawn. The membership fee is $275. 


The Minot, South Dakota Land Office placed 
cn record 1,231 homestead filings during the month 
of October, and the Bismark office is reported to 
have made 1,242 cash, and 200 homestead entries. 


The Federal Government has ceded Fort Hays 
near Topeka, Kansas, to the State, which is preparing 
to use it as a monster experimental station in connec¬ 
tion with the Agricultural College. There are over 
3,000 acres in the tract and the board of regents 
propose to make this one of the most practical experi¬ 
mental stations in the United States. 

The Philippine Islands contain about 50,000,000 
acres of public timber land which is chiefly hardwood, 
although it is estimated by Captain George P. Ahern, 
who is director of the forestry bureau at Manila, that 
there are nearly 1000 different species of trees, over 
600 having already been classified. 

The Weyerhaeuser timber syndicate, which has 
purchased several hundred thousand acres of fin- 
timber through Washington and Idaho, have com¬ 


pleted arrangements for the construction of 200,000- 
foot per day mill on Smith’s Island, in Puget Sound. 


BUSINESS DONE AT THE DEVILS LAKE, 
NORTH DAKOTA, LAND OFFICE FOR 
THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER, 1901. 

(168). Sales of Public Land Entries No. 

8811 to No. 8978, include 22,453.62 

acres . $28,208.14 

By Fees received on 3 Homestead decla¬ 
rations soldiers. 6.00 

By Fees received on 1 Timber and Stone 

Land application. 10.00 

By Fees received on 328 Homestead en¬ 
tries . 3,060.00 

By Commissions received on 47,189.96 

acres embraced thereby. 1,179.90 

By Commissions received on 67 Final 

Homesteads, 10,175.35 acres. 254.34 

By Fees received for Testimony, (Ex¬ 
amining and Approving'). 220.05 

Total receipts.$32,942.43 


{Continued from Page 1 .) 

measure, and asked all interested parties to at once 
offer any suggestion which they might think would 
be for the best interests of the State at large. It is 
no argument to state that the bill is prompted by ul¬ 
terior motives, especially in view of the fact that a 
perfect ignorance of the contents of the bill is appar¬ 
ent when it is stated to be a LEASING ’aw instead 
of one providing for the SALE to ACTUAL OWN¬ 
ERS OF ADJOINING LANDS. It is the part of 
justice and common decency to' be advised of the 
contents of a measure before such sweeping and un¬ 
just charges are made against its author. v “PUBLIC 
LAND” is not a political journal. It has a regard 
for the happiness and permanent prosperity of the 
•men and women who are building homes on the pub¬ 
lic land and! therefore means'to advocate the passage 
of any measure that it believes to be for the welfare 
of the homebuilders, without regard to whether the 
bill is urged by a political friend or foe. It is in 
favor of Mr. Jones’ bill and would like to see it still 
broader than it is. 

The readers of the Loomis Register have a right 
to know the truth about this matter and we respect¬ 
fully refer Bro. Batterson to December 17, issue of 
“PUBLIC LAND” where a full text of the bill re¬ 
ferred to may be found. 
























CO f»y RECEIVED 
JAN 6 1902 


8 


PUBLIC LAND. 


Land Offices and Officers of the United States. 


E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior Department, Washington, D C. 
Binger Hermann, Commissioner General Land Office, Washington, D. 0 


Alabama— 

Huntsville. 

Montgomery. 

Alaska— 

Rampart. 

Sitka. 

St. Michael. 

Arizona— 

Prescott. 

Tucson.. 

Arkansas— 

Camden. 

Dardanelle. 

Harrison. 

Little Rock. 

California— 

Eureka. 

Independence. 

Los Angeles. 

Marysville. 

Redding. 

Sacraemnto. 

San Francisco ... 

Stockton. 

Susanville. 

Visalia. 

Colorado— 

Akron. 

Del Norte. 

Denver. 

Durango. 

Gunnison. 

Glenwood Springs 

Hugo. 

Leadville. 

Lamar. 

Montrose. 

Pueblo. 

Sterling. 

Florida— 

Gainesville. 

Idaho— 

Blackfoot. 

Boise. 

Coeur d’Alene.... 

Hailey. 

Lewiston. 

Iowa— 

Des Moines. 

Kansas— 

Colby. 

Dodge City. 

Topeka. 

Wakeeny. 

Louisiana— 

Natchitoches. 

New Orleans. 

Michigan— 

Marquette. 

Minnesota— 

Crookston. 

Duluth. 

Marshall. 

St. Cloud. 

Mississippi— 

Jackson. 

Missouri— 

Boonville. 

Ironton. 

Springfield. 

Montana— 
Bozeman. 


REGISTER. 

John A. Steele. 

Robert Barker. 

P. M. Nalien. 

John W. Dudley. 

Franklin Moses. 

Fredrick A. Tritle, Jr.. 
Milton R. Moor*. 

Charles T. Duke. 

Joseph H. Battenfield.. 
John I. Worthington... 
Harry H. Myers. 

Henry A. Olesten. 

Stafford W. Austin... 
Angus J. Crookshank. 

Frank W. Johnson_ 

Frank M. Swasey.,— 

Thomas Fraser. 

Aaron B. Hunt.. 

John D. Maxey. 

Thomas S. Roseberry. 
Geo. W. Stewart. 

Peter Campbell. 

James H. Baxter. 

Charles D. Ford. 

Fredrick C. Perkins... 
Melvin A. Deering, 

John F. Squire. 

Lon E. Foote. 

Wat T. Beall. 

Willia mA. Merrill 
James A. Layton.. 

John R. Gordon- 

David C. Fleming. 

Walter G. Robinson... 

Lorenzo R. Thomas... 

James King. 

David H. Budlong— 

Neal J. Sharp.. 

John B. West. 

Thornton S. Howard.. 

Kleber E. Wilcockson. 

Thomas A. Scates. 

George W. Fisher. 

Isaac T. Purcell. 

J. Ernest Breda. 

Walter L. Cohen. 

Thomas Scadden. 

Sylvester Peterson.... 
William E. Culkin.... 

Cyrus P. Shepard. 

Myron D. Taylor. 

James Hill. 

William H. Martin — 

George Steel —. 

Martin V. Gideon.. 

Albert L. Love. 


RECEIVER. 
Herschel V. Cashin. 
John C. Leftwich. 

Wm. R. Edwards. 
Albert J. Apperson. 
Albert E. Rose. 

John C. Martin. 

John H. Bauman. 

Edward A. Shicker. 
John G. Chitwood. 
Felix S. Baker. 

John E. Bush. 

James F. Thompson. 
Frank E. Densmore. 
Arthur W. Kinney. 
Henry Malloch. 

Lloyd L. Carter. 
William A. Newcum 
Sargent S. Mortin. 
George A. McKenzie. 
Alfred H. Taylor. 
Othello Scribner. 

George W. Warner. 
Peter F. Barclay. 
Benjamin K Kimberly 
Daniel L. Sheets. 

Miss Martha C. Brown 
James W. Ross. 

John P. Dickinson. 
Fred Butler. 

C. Frost Liggett. 

John E. Pelton. 

John J. Lambert. 
Charles B. Timberlake 

Henry S. Chubb. 

George B. Rogers. 
Edward E. Garrett. 
Charles D. Warner. 
Wm. A. Plodgman. 
Charles H. Garby. 

Stephen J. Loughran. 

Cyrus Anderson. 

Lewis J. Pettijohn. 
Rudolph B. Welch. 
Frank W. King 

Charles J. Greene. 
Charles P. Johnston. 

John Jones. 

August F. George. 

Jay M. Smith. 
Christopher F. Case. 
Alva Eastman. 

George E. Matthews. 

Herman Schmidt. 

C. Sanford Russell. 
George A. Ramsey. 

Andrew J. Edsall. 


Helena... 
Kalispell. 
Lewistown. 


George D. Greene. 
Frank H. Nash.... 
Edward Brassey... 


Miles City. Samuel Gordon. 

Missoula.j Elmer E. Hershey.... 

Nebraska— 

Alliance.|Fred M. Dorrington... 

Broken Bow. [James Whitehead. 

Lincoln. [Joseph W. Johnson... 

McCook. Francis M. Rathbun.. 

North Platte. j George E. French. 

O’Neill. [Stephen J. Weekes_ 

Sidney.. Robley D. Harris. 

Valentine. James C. Pettijohn_ 

Nevada— 

Carson City. 

New Mexico— 

Clayton. Edward W. Fox. 


Oliver H. Gallup. 


Emil Solignac. 
Howard Leland.. 
Manuel R. Otero. 


Alex. C. McGillivray.. 

Ole Serumgard. 

Charles N. Valentine. 

Ernest H. Kent. 

Thomas E. Olsgard... 

Robert A. Cameron... 


James B. Cullison_ 

John Boles. 

Emory D. Brownlee.. 
Henry D. McNight. 

John A. Trotter. 

Seymour S. Price. 

Alfred H. Boles.. 

Frank D. Healy. 


George W. Hayes... 
Edward W. Bartlett... 
Eldon M. Brattain.. 
Charles B. Moores.. 
Joseph T. Bridges... 
Jay P. Lucas. 


Las Cruces 

Roswell. 

Santa Fe. 

North Dakota— 

Bismarck. 

Devil’s Lake. 

Fargo. 

Grand Fonts. 

Minot. 

Oklahoma— 

Alva. 

*E1 Reno.. 

Enid. 

Guthrie. 

Kingfisher. 

*Lawton... 

Mangum. 

Oklahoma. 

Perry. 

Woodward. 

Oregon— 

Burns. 

La Grande. 

Lakeview. 

Oregon City. 

Roseburg. 

The Dalles. 

South Dakota— 

Aberdeen. 

Chamberlain. 

Huron. 

Mitchell. 

Pierre. 

Rapid City. 

Watertown. 

Utah- 

Salt Lake City... 

Washington- 
North Yakima.... 

Olympia. 

Seattle. 

Spokane.. 

Vancouver. 

Walla Walla. 

Waterville. 

Wisconsin— 

Ashland. 

Eau Claire. 

Wausau. 

Wyoming— 

Buffalo. Prince A. Gatchell 

Cheyenne. William E. Chaplin... 

Evanston. Charles Kingston 

Douglas. AlbertD.Chamberlain. 

Lander. William T. Adams.. 

Sundance. Alpha E. Hoyt 

* Officers that have just been established to 
from the_Kiowa and Comanche reservations. 


John S. Vetter. 

William V. Lucas.. 
Charles A. Blake... 
George E. Foster... 

Albert Wheelon. 

George P. Bennett.. 
Lee Stover. 


Frank D. Hobbs. 


Walter J. Reed. 

Frank G. Deckebach. 
Edward P. Tremper.. 

William H. Ludden_ 

William R. Dunbar... 

John M. Hill. 

Matthew B. Malloy_ 


August Doenitz. 

Alfred Cypreansen.... 
John W. Miller. 


John Horsky. 

William C. Whipps. 
Louis W. Eldridge. 
James M. Rhoades. 
William O. Ranft. 

William R. Akers. 
Frank H. Young. 
Thomas P. Kennard. 
Joel A. Piper. 

Frank Bacon. 

D. Clem Denver. 

James L.McIntosh, Jr 
Albert L. Towle. 

David H. Hall. 

Albert W. Thompson. 
Henry D. Bowman. 
David L. Geyer. 
Edward F. Hobart. 

John Satterlund. 
Henry E. Baird. 
DeWitt C. Tufts. 
Christian L. Lindstrom 
Abner . Hanscom. 

William J. French. 


David W. Eastman. 
Fredrick E. McKinley. 
Jacob'V. Admire. 

James D. Mavuire. 

John A. Oliphant. 
Anton H. Classen. 

Joel R. Scott. 

John W. Miller. 

Charles Newell. 
Samuel O. Swackhamer 
Harry Bailey. 

William Galloway. 
James H. Booth. 

Otis Patterson. 

Frank A. Brown. 
Charles L. Brockway. 
John Westdahl. 
Thomas C. Burns. 
Henry E. Cutting. 
William S. Warner. 
George W. Case. 

George A. Smith. 

Miles Cahnon. 

John O'B. Scobey. 
Columbus T. Tyler. 
Samuel A. Wells. 

Lynn B. Clough. 
Thomas Mosgrove. 
Lucien E. Kellog. 

Duportal G. Sampson 

Alexander Meggett. 

Henry G. McCrossen .. 

Ephraim H. Smock. 
Edward A. Slack. 
Frank M. Foote. 

Merris C. Barrow. 

Mrs. Minnie Williams. 
Samuel A. Young, 
accomodate the business 


friuU Aff a* ftew Opportunities for Vou and 

tsiup oner* wends. « « « « « 

For a limited time “PUBLIC LAND” will be sent to five 
different addresses when sent in by one person for five dollars. 

Each issue of “PUBLIC LAND” will contain more of value 
to the subscriber interested in public laud matters than the full 
price of the year’s subscription. Some will receive a hundred 
times more. Get your friends to subscribe now. Send all re¬ 
mittances whenever possible by Post Office or Express Money 
Order, made payable to “PUBLIC LAND.” 

Office 124-25 Auditorium Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


Northwestern Business College, 

- 809 Second Avenue, SPOKANE, WASH.- 

The leading; Business Training- School of the 
Inland Empire. Winter term opens Monday, 
January 6, 1902. Send for catalogue. 

- ... E. H. THOMPSON, Principa l' 













































































































































































































































ADVERTISEMENTS. 


FRED’K J. H0AGLA5D, 


Attorney at law, 


ODESSA,_WASHINGTON. 

J. W. MARSTTAT.T., 
Attorney at Law. 

Practice in all the Courts. 


m Auditortu— bml, bpokane, wash. 

100,000 Acres Vacant Govern¬ 
ment Land in Lincoln County 
Washington. 

Get a “PUBLIC LAND" blue print 
map of Lincoln County, Washington. It 
# hows you the exact description of over 

100,000 ACRES OF VA¬ 
CANT GOVERNMENT 

Land in the famous “Big Bend” country. 
It is corrected up to date of purchase, is 
made^from the Land Office records, is 
absolutely correct and shows all the va¬ 
cant land in Lincoln County. Sent by 
mail on receipt of $2 .50, address 

“PUBLIC LAND” 

124-125 Auditorium Bldg. 
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 

"Public Land" 

has made several of its readers over 

$500 

By bringing opportunities to their 
notice which they would not have 
learned in any other way. There 
are many more of these- 

$500 


pieces in store for those who read 

“Public Land” 


ATTEND THE 

Puget Sound Business College 

for a practical, up-to-date business course. 
Bookkeeping, penmanship, stenography 
and typewriting. Send ten cents for sam¬ 
ple dozen cards and how you can earn 
some money during spare time. Address 
D. M. KNAUF, Principal, M3 Yakima are., 
Tacoma, Wash. 

0. W. KENNEDY, 

Livery Stables, 

Gentle Driving Horses. Good Drivers to 
show you the land you want to see. 
Everything first class. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 

DOUGLAS HOTEL, 

William Newlove, Prop., 

AMERICAN PLAN. 

tl.M and $1.50 Per Day. 

Prompt, Neat, Clean Service. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 

WILSOJf CREEK LIVERY STABLE 
R. J. Armstrong, Prop. 

GOOD HORSES, GOOD RIGS, GOOD 
DRIVERS, FIRST CLASS 
SERVICE. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 

CLAIR HUNT, 

Civil Rngineor- 
U. S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor. 

B0SSBURG, - - WASHINGTON. 


INLAND PRINTING COMPANY, 

610-812 Sprague Are. 

Print Anything. Try us with your 
next order. 

It will save you money. 


M. L. SCHERMERHORN, 
United States Commissioner 

There’s lots of good Vacant Agricultural Laud 
tributary to 

HMD, . - - WASHINGTON 


WENTWORTH CLOTHING GO. 

Reliable Mens’ and 
Boys’ Outfitters. 

709-11 Riverside Are. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 


J. W. MeCONE, 

Farm and City Property For Sale 
or Exchange. 

MONEY TO LOAN. 

7-8 Sherwood Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 

JOHN McDOWELL, 

united States Commissioner and 
Justice of the Peace. 


Gold Butte, Mont. 

h; S. Swenson, Clyde C. Hkniow, 

United States Commissioner. Notary Public* 

SWENSON & HENION, 

Timber and Agricultural Lands. Homestead 
and timber locations. Agents townsite of New¬ 
port. 

Publishers of NEWPORT MINER, Ji.so'per year. 
NEWPORT, WASHINGTON. 


PIANOS 

Being the only dealer in 
Spokane who buys direct 
from the manufacturer in 
carload lots, and for cash 
only, I am in a position 
to save you money if you 
want a piano.- 

AUGUST MEYER 

919 Riverside Ave. 


Map di Mm County, Mioa 

A fine Blue Print Map of that part of 
Adams County, which is in the 
Spokane Falls, Washington Land 
District, comprising thirty-two town¬ 
ships and showing all the vacnat land 
in each township and corrected up 
to date will be sent by mail on re¬ 
ceipt of price—$2.50. Address 

“PUBLIC LAN D” 

124-125 Auditorium Bldg. 

Spokane, Wabminoton. 







































Walton & Goodsell, Land Attorneys 


Leave of absence from your Homestead. Applications to 
amend your Homstead and making of all papers pertaining to 
Public Lands. Contests, protests and other bearings before 
any U. S. Land Office. The Commissioner of the General 
Land Office and the Interior Department. Mining Applica¬ 
tions. Military Bounty Land Warrants. Forest Reserve, 
Soldier’s Additional Homestead, and all other Land Scrips 
bought and sold. We can get your tangles straightened with¬ 
out your coming to the office 


Rooms 124-25 Auditorium Block, Phone Main 369 

= Spokane, WaeHirigtoin = ' , 


Office 


FREE HOMESTEADS 

I know the location of several first-class pieces of 
Government Land that can be secured under the 
Homestead Law, in 

Douglas County, Washington 

upon which I will locate persons desiring homesteads. 
This land is fine agricultural prairie land and is es¬ 
pecially adapted to wheat raising, being situated in 
what is known as the Big Bend Country of Eastern 
Washington, the banner wheat country of the State. 

W. H. BURNS, 

Wilson Creek, Washington 

Enquire at Bank of Wilson Creek. 



400 HOMESTEAD CLAIMS IN ADAMS 
COUNTY, STATE OF WASHINGTON. 

We have a Blue Print Map showing the exact 
location of all the vacant land in that part of Adams 
county, state of Washing^ a, that is within the Spo¬ 
kane Falls district, which is corrected up to date, 
that we will give to every club raiser who sends us 
in ten paid yearly subscribers at one dollar each. The 
regular price of the map is $2.50. 





















CONGRESS, 

"One Copy Received 

JAN. IS 1902 

CoPYmOHT ENTRY 

5UASS XXo. No 
COPY 



p. PVBLISHED 

^ WEEKLY. 


9EV0TED TO THOSE 
INTERESTED IIW 
THE PVBLIC LAMPS 

>^or^ 

THE VniTEP STATES 


$ 1.50 PER YEAR 
m ADVAHCE. 


9 


Vol. I. No. 2 


Spokane, Wash., Jan.. 7, 1902 


Single Copies, 10 Cents 


CONTENTS. 

Editorial— 

New Opportunities— 

The Grazing: Land Bill. 1 

Cass Lake Reservation. 4 

Radical Changes. 1 

Omer Irrigation Canal. 4 I 

Open the South Half . 1 

Final Townsite Certificate. 4 


Land on the Pend d’Oreille .... 4 


Land Laws and Decisions— 

Current Topics— 

Timber and Stone Laws of the 

Russian Colonization. 2 

United States. 6 

The German Government. 2 


Many Pensions.. 2 

Miscellany— 


Settlers on Unsurveyed Railroad 


Land. 6 


Answers to Subscribers. 6 

Minerals and Timber— 

Newest Colonization Scheme. . . 7 

President’s Timber Letter. 3 

Who Shall Have the Places.... 7 

An Important Movement. 3 

Land Offices and Officers of the ; 

W. H. Freeman, Secretary. ... 3 

United States (corrected).... 8 


















































ADVERTISEMENTS 


C. H. HOLDEN, 


Attorney at Law. 


Chole« timber lands in large or small 
tracts. Timber land cruised and estimates 
given. Government lands located. Fruit 
lands. Ranch land. Grazing land for sale. 
Climate unsurpassed; no cold, no heat, 
lands, ranch land, grazing land for sale, 
no cyclones. Correspondence solicited. 


FLORENCE, OREGON. 


KOLLIN J. BEEVES, 


United Statei Commissioner, 


WILBUR, 


WASHINGTON. 


SIDNEY MOGE HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

In and for District of Washington. 


HOQUIAM, 


WASHINGTON. 


A. B. SWANSON, 
United States Commissioner, 


Notary Public, Loans 
and Collections—Conveyancer 


WILSON CREEK, 


WASHINGTON. 


CUMMIMG BROS. & POWELL, 
Choice Timber and Homestead Loca¬ 
tions on Government Land. 

TIMBER CRUISED AND ESTIMATES GIVEN 

Fruit, grazing and ranch lands and pine and 
cedar timber for sale. 


801& Riverside Ave. 


SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


LAND SCRIP 


-FOR- 

Surveyed or Unsurveyed 

Government Land, lowest prices, 
and quick delivery. We also 
have some choice saw mill loca¬ 
tions, and timber lands in white 
pine belt of Northern Idaho. 

New Northwestern Umber Co., 

62-63 JaMMM Blick. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


UNITED STATES COMMISSIONERS 1 

' ALABAMA 

ELLIOTT G. RICKARBY, g 

United States Commissioner ^ 

86 St. Michaels St., MOBILE id 
d 

COLORADO la 

H. A. WILDHACK, 

United States Commissioner 

MEEKER 

CALIFORNIA. J 

J. WILL SMITH, 

Attorney and U. S. Commissioner 

SANTA BARBARA „ 

IDAHO 

JAMES DeHAVEN, 

United States Commissioner 

GRANGEVILLE IS 

T. D. HASTIE, 

United States Commissioner 

OROFINO ib 

ILLINOIS. 

SIMEON. W KING, 

United States Commissioner p, 

Room 941, Monadnock Block, CHICAGO 

MONTANA 

JOHN McDOWELL, 

United States Commissoner 

GOLD BUTTE 0] 

NEW MEXICO. If 3 

W. S. GEORGE, 1 

U. S. Court Commissioner, Mining 

Engineer, Mines, Farm Lands, etc. 

COONEY, SOCARRO COUNTY 1 

WASHINGTON 

A. R. SWANSON, 

United States Commissoner 

WILSON CREEK 

SIDNEY MOOR HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

HOQUIAM 

ROLLIN J. REEAVES, 

United States Commissioner 

WILBUR 

J. W. MARSHALL, 

Attorney and United States Commissoner 
Auditorium, SPOKANE 

M. L. SCHERMERHORN, in ?1 

United States Commissioner ths 

LIND kir 

H. S. SWENSON, kn 

des 

United States Commissioner rat 

NEWPORT 

WYOMING. 

ORIN HTWOODS, 

United States Commissioner 

BASIN 


HOMES FOB THE HOMESEEKEBf 

LANDS FOR THE LANDLESS. 

We have a large list of the choicest 
ling lands in the Big Bend and 
rghout the Inland Empire. Improved 
is $15 to $20 per acre. This is the »ee- 
that produces 30,000,000 bushels of 
it per annum. Fine fruit; no failure*; 
climate. Money placed for non-rwf- 
3 on first mortgages on first class 
Trantum & Schoonover. Odessa,Wa.. 


JNO. JAS. GBAVES, 


Conveyancer, Beal Estate, 


MEYERS FALLS, 


WASHINGTON. 


J. B. ZIEGLEB, 


Insurance Age at. 


LANDS AND TOWN PROPER¬ 
TIES FOR SALE. 


Promptly. 


ODESSA, 


Office on First Avenue. 

WASHINGTON. 



•red. CVS TEE DUE WEEN PATENS 
Send model, sketch or photo, with 
r free report as to patentability. 48-PAGE 
' FRB35. Contains references and foil 
WHITE FOR COPT OF OUR SPECIAL 


ZT before applying for patent. Address: 

H. B. WILLSON g CO. 

PATENT LAWYERS, 


Free Homesteads. 


Call on 


year. We have an accurate 
e vacant tracts and will locate 
on them at very reasonable 


H. E. STONE, 


ODESSA, WASHINGTON 


























































PUBLIC LAND. 


7&£//o/t£m/c£# /j r//ft/op£ of r//£// a r/o/t 



Offices 124-125 Auditorium Bldg., 

Spokane, Wash. 

ADVERTISING RATES ON 

APPLICATION. 

Entered at Spokane, Wash., as Second Class Mail Matter. 

Copyrighted 1901 by Walton , 

t Goodsell. 

Vol. 1 . Spokane, Wash , Jan. 

7,1902. No. 21. 


THE GRAZING LAND BILL needs your as¬ 
sistance. Can you not see Brown, Jones or Smith 
and have them get up and send well signed petitions 
from their districts? 


PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT’S special message 
recommending the creation of the Southern Forest 
Reserve is meeting with a happy response from the 
press ol the country, and especially the southern 
papers. The proposed reserve will take in that 
mountain and timber region in southwestern Vir¬ 
ginia, western North Carolina and eastern Ten¬ 
nessee. 


COMMISSIONER, OF IMMIGRATION Hart 
S. North made an important ruling at San Francisco 
last week, which was to the effect that an alien afflict¬ 
ed with consumption, though traveling first class and 
of ample means, could not be allowed admission in 
this country. The Commissioner took the position 
that the condition surrounding a tourist in his travels 
are of a social and personal nature and in no way 
affected his position as an alien from a statutory 
point of view. 

RADICAL CHANGES in the administration of 
the public land affairs of the United States is a 
subject that is attracting public notice as perhaps it 
has never done before. The awakening of public 
sentiment on the subject in 1891 which resulted in 
the repeal of the pre-emption and timber culture 
laws more nearly approached it than at any other 


time. The wholesale fraud and common resort to 
perjury in the submission of final proofs under ex¬ 
isting laws are the elements which have brought 
the reaction at this time. Coupled with this, the 
fact that over half of all the public land has been 
disposed of and in the face of the fact that there are 
thousands of homeless heads of families who not 
only do not own land, but are totally wanting in the 
matter of means with which to purchase it. 

It is now seriously contended that every law which 
has for its purpose the passing of title to unappro¬ 
priated, agricultural land in the hands of the Gov¬ 
ernment should be repealed except the homestead 
law, and that that should be so^ amended as to require 
five years’ actual residence, and cultivation, entirely 
striking out the commutation clause which permits 
final proof after six months’ constructive and eight 
months’ actual residence on the land, and the pay¬ 
ment of $1.25 or $2.50 per acre as the case may be. 


OPEN THE SOUTH HALF of the Colville 
Reservation in the State of Washington to free 
homestead settlement is the demand that is being 
made by the citizens of the Inland Empire. The 
rich agricultural lands which are locked up and lying 
idle and fallow should be permitted to yield of their 
abundance. These lands are now open to mineral 
exploration, but they should be opened to settlement 
as the two must go hand in hand to bring profitable 
results. The miner not only needs the produce 
which the farmer raises, but more especially needs 
his assistance in the matter of road building and in 
the promotion of transportation facilities. The mines 
of the South Half are rich in minerals, gold, silver, 
lead and copper, but. before they can be made to 
purchase flour and bacon they must have passed 
through the refining influences of the smelter, and 
this necessarily requires adequate means of trans¬ 
portation. On the other hand, if the settlers were 
allowed to co-operate with the miners on the South 
Half they would always have a magnificent home 
market for everything they could produce, and be¬ 
sides making a handsome profit, its sale to the miners 
would save them the cost of long hauls and expensive 
transportation. 

There will be several thousand acres of the finest 
agricultural land on the reserve that can be found 
anywhere, after all of the Indians have been fully 
satisfied by allotment, and the citizens and business 
men of the Inland Empire should take a live interest 
in the matter and see that its demand is presented to 
Congress in no uncertain tone of voice. 




































2 


PUBLIC LAND. 


CURRENT TOPICS. 


THE ATTORNEY GENERAL has decided that 
Oklahoma school lands cannot be leased for town- 
site purposes. Mountain View, Luther and other 
thriving towns are affected by this opinion. 


INVESTIGATIONS into the affairs of townsite 
officers in the newly opened Kiowa-Comanche and 
Apache country seems to be the order of the day. 
Charges of mismanagement and gross misapplica¬ 
tion of funds are the strings being played upon. 


THE COOPERTON TOWNSITE COMPANY 
have organized to do 1 a general townsite business at 
Cooperton, Kiowa County, Oklahoma, for a term of 
twenty years. The directors are W. J. Hood, C. W. 
Tipton and F. F. Ganourning, all of Cooperton. 


DILL TOWNSITE COMPANY is getting in a 
pickle. Charges of wholesale mismanagement and 
misappropriation of funds has been alleged against 
the townsite Commissioners, who in turn refute each 
charge and have applied for a thorough investiga¬ 
tion of their official conduct. 


THE HIGH LINE CANAL COMPANY of 
Rocky Fork, Colo., held its annual meeting a few 
days ago and decided to- put on a large force of men, 
constructing the dam with which to develop the Apis- 
hapa Reservoir. This dam will be built at the upper 
end of Apishapa Canyon and will have a capacity 
sufficient to water 1,500 acres. 


RUSSIA IS GOING to embark in a wholesale 
colonization scheme for the relief of the millions of 
families in central Russia. The Ministry is co-oper¬ 
ating with the local elective bodies for the purpose 
of organizing a vast system of immigration for the 
distressed farmers from their present unproductive 
lands to Siberia, South Russia, Caucasus and Central 
Asia. 


THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT is reported 
to be planning a colonization campaign for the set¬ 
tlement of South America by German immigrants. 
A bureau has been established for this purpose with 
Herr Koser at its head. It will also be his duty to 
divert German immigration to 1 the German colonies 
in Africa, Kamerum, New Guinea, Samoa and Mar¬ 


shall Islands. The Germans in other lands are to 
be induced to settle in German territory and those 
in South Africa will be persuaded to remain loyal to 
the fatherland, speak the German language, cling* to 
their native customs and rear their children to be¬ 
come good Germans. This is the vital object of the 
new bureau, which is to absorb the Deutsche Colonie 
Gesellschaft, a voluntary organization whose pur¬ 
pose it was to divert the flow of German immigra¬ 
tion, but with poor success. The population of Ger¬ 
many is increasing at the rate of 1,000,000 each year 
and the effort to make a living there becomes greater 
with each passing year. The farmers and families 
rush to the cities, seeking employment, in the stores 
and factories; these have become overcrowded and 
the break for better opportunities is right at hand, 
and the bureau is not only to divert the immigration 
of German colonies, but is to furnish free transporta¬ 
tion to' South America for those who settle there. 


MANY PERSON'S WISH TO SECURE GOV¬ 
ERNMENT land who have used or do not wish to 
use their own rights, or who wish to : secure a larger 
quantity than they could through the use of their 
own, have resorted to' the practice of securing others 
to file upon the land and prove up for them. This 
usually proves to be an expensive method, and is 
certainly a hazardous one. For whoever uses his 
homestead or timber and stone right for another 
must perjure himself, and thereby lay himself crim¬ 
inally liable, and if it can be proven that he is so 
using his right, his entry will be cancelled. Often 
there is a valuable piece of land at stake, and the 
man employed to defraud the Government and se¬ 
cure title to the land fails to,live up to the letter of 
the law, and someone contests his entry, and the 
land is lost to the man who was in this dishonesr 
way seeking to acquire title to it. 

Sometimes these attempts are made through ig¬ 
norance of any other method and sometimes with 
the idea of saving a few cents. 

For the benefit of the first class, those who are 
ignorant of any other way in which they could se¬ 
cure title, we will say that there is a way.to avoid 
all this uncertainty and dishonesty, by securing the 
land in a sure and safe way; that is by the location 
of some of the numerous scrips upon it. It will 
cost no more than it will to hire a man to use his 
rights, it will be sure and safe, and the best of all, it 
will be honest. The scrips commonly used on sur¬ 
veyed land are Soldier’s Additional and Forest Re¬ 
serve lieu. 













PUBLIC LAND. 


3 


MINERALS AND TIMBER. 


THE GRAND RONDE (Washington) coal 
fields continue to give promise of large profit with 
further development. The tunnel has been driven 
190 feet and the solid coal body is now thirty-one 
feet thick. 


THE PROSPECTORS WHO HAVE BEEN 
FILING mining claims on lands included within al¬ 
lotments to the Kiowa and Comanche tribes have 
been ordered to vacate by U. S. Indian Agent Rand- 
lett. 


A PARTY OF GREAT NORTHERN R. R. 
officers visited the recently acquired deal mines at 
Cokeville, Washington, 'last week and ordered a 
shipment of five hundred tons of coke to the North- 
port smelter for the purpose of making a test of the 
coke which, will be used in large quantities if found 
satisfactory by the Smelter people. 


PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT sent a letter to 
Congress on the day of its holiday adjournment, 
strongly commending the plan for a national forest 
reservation in the southern Appalachian region. The 
letter accompanied the report of the Secretary of 
Agriculture on the subject. The report and letter 
sets out at length the importance and need to the 
south of the scheme, and refers to the marvelous 
variety of plant growth in-that region and shows it 
to be unsurpassed for a hard wood reserve, and he 
earnestly commends its establishment to 1 Congress. 


AN IMPORTANT MOVEMENT is on foot in 
the State of California to have the federal Govern¬ 
ment withdraw all of its vacant and unoccupied tim¬ 
ber land in that State from settlement or appropna- 
tion under any of the land laws of the United States. 
This movement has been started by the California 
Water and Forest Association. Resolutions have 
been sent to the Chief of the national forestry di¬ 
vision, requesting him to report on the advisability 
of State legislation. They have also requested their 
Congressional delegation to vote and work for the 
passage of a bill which has for its purpose the with- 
drawS of all timber lands.. The sameorgam^ ion 
is working hard for a revision of the water laws o 
the State and that a State water commission should 
be created and chosen as follows: 

One expert to be chosen from the Department of 
Agriculture, ^ne expert from the United States Geo¬ 


logical Survey, the Presidents of the University of 
California and the Leland Stanford, Jr., University, 
one professor of engineering from each of said Uni¬ 
versities, and three practiced lawyers to be named 
by the President of the California Water and Forest 
Association. 

At their recent meeting in San Francisco the mem¬ 
bers of that organization passed resolutions declar¬ 
ing for generous appropriations by the State and 
opposed the storage of water by private parties. At 
this meeting they elected the following officers: 

President, William Thomas; vice-presidents, N. 
P. Chipman, Arthur R. Briggs and J. B. Lippincott; 
treasurer, F. W. Dohrmann; secretary, T. C. Fried- 
lander; advisory committee; David! Starr Jordan, C. 

D. Marx, W. S. Green, W. E. Smythe, C. W. 
Thomas, Frank Soule, A. J. Pillsbury, Scipio Craig, 
J. M. Wilson, Thonias J. Field, Timothy Hoppkins, 

E. F. Adams. 

President Thomas appointed the following on the 
Executive Committee: Chief Justice William H. 
Beatty, Benjamin Ide Wheeler, Frank J. Symines, 
William H. Mills, John D. Works, William E. 
Willis. 


W. H. FREEMAN, SECRETARY of the State 
Board of Forestry of Indiana, has issued a bulletin 
wherein he sets out at length the vast consumption 
of timber in his State as well as the country at large. 
There were 18,000,000 acres of timber in the State 
in 1806, while today there is about 1,500,000 acres 
and nearly all of that is “second growth stuff.” The 
annual consumption of timber in the State is nearly 
500,000 acres. Fifty per cent of the manufactured 
articles of the State depend directly upon the supply 
of hard wood and, as the timber supply has reached 
the low water mark, the conditions are becoming 
alarming, for it is insisted that when the timber goes, 
the manufacturers will go with it. _ Secretary Free¬ 
man has developed a scheme by which men who de¬ 
sire to invest money may purchase cheap lands in 
the State and begin the propagation of timber to be 
used in the manufacture of pulp. The bulletin shows 
that the subject of forestry is extensively taught, 
and that every effort is being made for the preserva¬ 
tion and propagation of timber in the State. Under 
the caption, “Fence Posts and Railroad Tes,” the 
bulletin says: 

“The quality and quantity of timber \vhich now 
remains and the rapid removal of timber everywhere 
are signs of some economic problems which farmers 

(Continued on Page 4.) 
















4 


PUBLIC LAND. 


NEW OPPORTUNITIES. 


CASS LAKE INDIAN RESERVATION is to 
be opened in the near future, if enterprise on the part 
of the citizens of Cass Lake, Minn., will do' it. The 
town council granted $500 a few days ago to send 
a delegation to Washington to work for the opening 
of the Reservation to- settlement and for agricultural 
purposes, but to oppose its being set aside as a Forest 
Reserve or national park. 


THE OMER CANAL AND RESERVOIR 
COMPANY held its annual meeting last week at 
Omer, Colo., and, among other things, let a contract 
for building a new dam which would hold sufficient 
water to place nearly 5,000 acres more of land under 
irrigation. These lands are about fifteen miles from 
Fowler, and are well adapted to the growth of al¬ 
falfa, potatoes and sugar beets, as well as other 
vegetables, Truits and grain. 


FINAL CERTIFICATE has issued on the 
Mountain Park townsite in Oklahoma. The land is 
in the northeast quarter of section thirty-five and 
the southeast quarter of section tweyt-six, township 
three, north of range seventeen west, Indian Merid¬ 
ian. The townsite Commissioners have announced 
that they will receive filings or applications for deeds 
to lots on January 19. The probate judge will 
closely follow up this action by the issuance of deeds. 
The filings can be made in person or by a duly au¬ 
thorized attorney. 


THERE ARE SEVERAL TOWNSHIPS on 
the Pend d’Oreille River in Stevens County, Wash¬ 
ington, which will probably be filed in the Land 
Office at Spokane Falls, Wash., in the early spring 
and will be opened to filing. It would be well for 
those seeking Government land to make an inspec¬ 
tion of this land before it is opened to filing and if 
they* find land that will suit them, make settlement 
upon it, they will then have the best right to the 
land when it is opened for filing. This land is tim¬ 
ber land, but a large quantity will be good for agri¬ 
cultural purposes when the timber is removed. It is 
also a good stock country, there being quite a quan¬ 
tity of rough broken land that affords abundant 
range. The best way to reach this land is by way 
of the Great Northern to- Newport and from there 
take the boat down the river. 

The following are the townships that are already 
surveyed: Township 37, N. Range 42; Township 


37, N. Range 43; Township 38, N. Ranges 41, 42 
and 43; Township 39, N. Range 42. 

There is also a quantity of land along the Pend 
d’Oreille that is now open to settlement and it might 
be a good plan to look it over on your way clown. 


(Continued from Page 3.) 

and railroad companies will have to meet before 
many years for post and tie material. A majority 
of farms are now far short of suitable material for 
these purposes. 

“The growing tendencies are toward the smaller 
acreage of farms -and more systematic fences, and 
an increase in the mileage of railroads. These tend¬ 
encies mean a much greater demand for the-above 
kind of timber product. 

“The successful farmer will meet these demands 
intelligently by producing on his farm such of this 
as he can, and will find by calculation that a large 
profit may easily be made in doing it. - 

“Every farmer can set aside part of his land to 
cultivate in hardy catalpa, chestnut, Kentucky coffee- 
tree, black locust and Russian mulberry and wait 
eight or ten years for his returns if such returns 
will pay him a larger average annual income for 
every year at less labor than a smaller return at more 
labor and certainly by cultivating crops annually. 

“These species of trees are the best known kinds 
for these purposes. They are the quickest growers, 
easiest propagated and are; the most durable in con¬ 
tact with the soil. They may be grown on ordinary 
soil to , the number of 2,000 or 2,700 trees to the 
acre very successfully, in either mixed or pure plant¬ 
ings. Hilly, sandy, gravelly and run down soils un¬ 
suited for grain cultivation is first class for this tim¬ 
ber growing - . 

“These trees rightly cultivated will, by reason of 
the time mentioned, be suitable for posts, and at 
from 12 to 15 years of age be large enough for ties. 
It would be a poor result not yielding more than 
two of either posts or ties per tree, which by calcu¬ 
lation will reveal the income. Two years of culti¬ 
vation and the harvesting is all that is necessary by 
way of labor and the expense of money need be but 
iittle.” 

Tables in the bulletin show there are 488 factories 
in the State outside of incorporated cities and towns 
using wood for manufacture. In the State there 
are 5,312 acres and 284 forests in exemption. There 
are 18,266,964 acres in farm land and 1,277,141 
acres in timber. 












PUBLIC LAND 


5 


LAND LAWS AND DECISIONS. 


TIMBER AND STONE LAWS. 

An Act for the Sale of Timber Lands in the State> 
of California, Oregon, Nevada and in 
Washington Territory. 

“Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre¬ 
sentative ot the United States of America in Con¬ 
gress Assembled, That surveyed public lands of the 
United States within the states of California, Ore¬ 
gon and Nevada, and in Washington Territory, not 
included within military, Indian or other reserva¬ 
tions of the United States, valuable chiefly for tim¬ 
ber, but unfit for cultivation, and which have not 
been offered at public sale, according to law, may 
be sold to citizens of the United States, or persons 
who have declared their intention to- become such, in 
quantities not exceeding one hundred and sixty 
acres to any one person or association ot persons, 
at the minimum price of two dollars and fifty cents 
per acre; and lands valuable chiefly for stone may be 
sold on the same terms as timber lands: Provided , 
That nothing herein contained shall defeat or im- 
pair any bona fide claim under any law of the 
United States, or authorize the sale of any mining 
claim, or the improvements of any bona fide settler, 
or lands containing- gold, silver, cinnabar, copper or 
coal, or lands selected by the said States under any 
law of the United States donating lands for internal 
improvements, education, or other purposes: And 
provided further, That none of the rights conferred 
by the act approved July twenty-sixth, eighteen hun¬ 
dred and sixty-six, entitled “An act granting the 
right of way to' ditch and canal owners over the 
public lands, and for other purposes,’ shall be abro¬ 
gated by this act ; and all patents granted, shall be 
subject to any vested and accrued water rights, or 
rights to ditches and reservoirs used in connection 
with such water rights, as may have been acquired, 
under and by the provisions of said act ; and such 
rights shall be expressly reserved in any patent is¬ 
sued under this act. 

Sec. j2. That any person desiring to avail him¬ 
self of the provisions of this act shall file with the 
register of the proper district a wiitten statement 
in duplicate, one of which is to be transmitted to the 
General Land Office, designating by legal subdivis¬ 
ions the particular tract of land he desires to pur¬ 
chase, setting forth that the same is unfit for culti¬ 
vation, and valuable chiefly for its timber or stone; 
that it is uninhabited; contains no mining or othei 
improvements, except for ditch or canal pm poses. 


where any such do exist, save such as were made or 
belonged to the applicant, nor, as deponent verily 
believes, any valuable deposit of gold, silver, cinna¬ 
bar, copper, or coal; that deponent has made no 
other application under this act; that he does not 
apply to- purchase the same on speculation, but in 
good faith to appropriate it to' his own exclusive 
use and benefit; and that lie has not, directly or in¬ 
directly, made any agreement or contract, in any 
way or manner, with any person or persons whatso ¬ 
ever, by which the title which he might acquire from 
the Government of the United States should inure, in 
whole or in part to the benefit of any person except 
himself; which statement must be verified by the 
oath of the applicant before the register or the re¬ 
ceiver of the land office within the district where 
the land is situated; and if any person taking such 
oath shall swear falsely in the premises, he shall be 
subject to all the pains and penalties of perjury, and 
shall forfeit the money which he may have paid 
for said lands, and all right and title to the same; 
and any grant or conveyance which he may have 
made, except in the hands of bona fide purchasers, 
shall be null and void. 

Sec. 3. That upon the filing of said statement, 
as provided in the second section of this act, the 
register of the land office shall post a notice of such 
application, embracing a description of the land by 
legal subdivisions, in his office, for a period of sixty 
days, and shall furnish the applicant copy of the 
same for publication at the expense of such appli¬ 
cant, in a newspaper published nearest the location 
of the premises, for a like period of time and after 
the expiration of said sixty days, if no adverse claim 
shall have been filed, the person desiring to purchase 
shall furnsh to the register of the land office 1 satis¬ 
factory evidence, first, that said notice of the appli¬ 
cation prepared by the register aforesaid was duly 
published in a newspaper as herein required; sec¬ 
ondly, that the land is of the character contemplated 
in this act, unoccupied and without improvements, 
other than those excepted, either mining or agricul¬ 
tural, and that it apparently contains no valuable de¬ 
posits of gold, silver, cinnabar, copper, or coal; and 
upon payment to the proper officer of the purchase 
money of said land, together with the fees of the 
register and the receiver, as provided for in case of 
mining claims in the twelfth section' of the act ap¬ 
proved May tenth, eighteen hundred and seventy- 
two, the applicant may be permitted to enter said 
tract, and, on the transmission to the General Land 
Office of the papers and testimony in the case, a 









6 


PUBLIC LAND. 


patent shall issue thereon: Provided, That any per¬ 
son having a valid claim to any portion, of the land 
may object in writing to the issuance of a patent to 
lands so held by him stating the nature of his claim 
thereto; and evidence shall betaken and the merits 
of said objection shall be determined by the officers 
of the land office, subject to appeal, as in other land 
cases. Effect shall be given to the foregoing pro¬ 
visions of this act by regulations to be prescribed by 
the Commissioner of the General Land Office. 

Sec. 6. That all acts and parts of acts inconsis¬ 
tent with the provisions of this act are hereby re¬ 
pealed. 

Approved, June 3, 1878 (20 Stat., 89). 

{Act August 4, 1892.) 

Sec. 2. That an act entitled “An act for .the 
sale of timber lands in the States of California, Ore¬ 
gon, Nevada, and Washington Territory, approved 
June third, eighteen hundred and seventy-eight, be, 
and the same is hereby, amended by striking out the 
words “States of California, Oregon, Nevada and 
Washington Territory,” where the same occur in 
the second and third lines of said act, and insert in 
lieu thereof the words “public-land States,” the pur¬ 
pose of this act being to make said act of June third, 
eighteen hundred and seventy-eight, applicable to all 
the public-land States.” 

SETTLERS UPON UNSURVEYED RAIL¬ 
ROAD LAND. 

Persons contemplating settling upon unsurveyed 
land should be careful to know upon what land they 
are settling, if it falls within the grant of the North¬ 
ern Pacific Railway Company, for if they should 
settle upon what, when it is surveyed, is found to be 
railroad land, they will loose it. Some people seem 
to be of the opinion that the act of July 1, 1898, will 
protect them if, through mistake, they do settle upon 
railroad land, but this is an erroneous idea of the 
act, for the Secretary of the Interior has held in his 
decisions that this act only applies to those who 
settled upon unsurveyed land before January 1, 
1898, and can give no relief to those settling later. 
This being so, it would be well for persons who 
settle to be sure they are upon what will be Gov¬ 
ernment land and not waste time and money -upon 
a piece of land, only to loose it when it is surveyed. 

LAND COMMISSIONER WILDEY of Michi¬ 
gan recently disposed of 3,360 acres of State land at 
private sale. The land was in Schoolcraft, Chippe¬ 
wa and Machinae Counties. 


MISCELLANY. 


ANSWERS TO SUBSCRIBERS. 

Under this head complete answers will be given 
to subscribers’ questions concerning the public land 
of the United States. Name and address, of each 
subscriber must be given with letter asking the 
question. 

R. R., Oklahoma: Why cannot an isolated tract 
be purchased in Oklahoma? 

Answer: The reason that isolated tracts may not 
be purchased in Oklahoma is probably because of the 
laws opening the land to entry prescribe certain laws 
under which the land can be taken, and that it can be 
taken only under these laws. The isolated tract law 
has never been included, for this reason the Commis¬ 
sioner would have no right to order the land to be 
sold under this law. 

I have used my homestead right. Can I now take 
a timber and stone claim, and how long will I be re¬ 
quired to live upon it, if I can take one? 

Answer: You 1 have a right to file a timber and 
stone claim; it is a separate right and is not affected 
by your having filed a homestead; the timber and 
stone law does not require residence, but you must 
pay $2.50 per acre for the land and the land must 
not be valuable for agricultural purposes. See Land 
Laws and Decisions, page 5. 


L. A. Archta, California. 

I have a homestead in a neighborhood where it 
is impossible to acquire title to sufficient land upon 
which to build a church and provide a burial ground. 
I have not made proof on my land, but I wish to give 
the church five acres of my homestead land for that 
purpose. Can I agree to do so without danger to my 
right to the remainder of my claim? 

Ans. Yes, the act of March 3, 1891 amended sec¬ 
tion 2288 of the Revised Statutes so as to read as fol¬ 
lows : 

Sec. 2288. Any bona fide settler under the pre¬ 
emption, homestead or other settlement law shall 
have the right to transfer, by warranty against his 
own acts, any portion of his claim for church, ceme¬ 
tery, or school purposes, or for the right of way of 
railroads, canals, reservoirs, or ditches for irrigation 
or drainage across it; and the transfer for such pub¬ 
lic purposes shall in no way vitiate the right to com¬ 
plete and perfect the title to his claim.” 




















PUBLIC LAND. 


7 


SIXTEEN THOUSAND ACRES was recently 
purchased near Emporia, Angelina County, Texas, 
for the purpose of founding a colony of 500 families. 
The land will be devoted chiefly to fruit raising and 
peaches will be the favorite fruit. Northern families 
will make up this colony. 


THERE ARE NOW FIVE furnaces running in 
full blast at the Northport, Washington Smelter, 
and another will be in readiness to receive ore about 
the first of the month. The output ol matte will 
soon exceed that of any time in the history of the 
smelter. 


HOWARD B. BRYNING, formerly passenger 
agent of the Burlington, has been appointed travel¬ 
ing immigration agent of the Northern Pacific rail¬ 
road. Mr. Bryning will have his headquarters at 
Kansas City, Mo., and will have Missouri, Kansas 
and Nebraska to look after. 

THE NEWEST COLONIZATION scheme is 
the purchase of a large tract of land by the promoters 
who divide the cost into one thousand shares. A 
share will entitle the holder to a tract of land. A 
townsite is laid off and the entire tract is subdivided 
into lots and tracts from the ordinary lot to an eighty 
acre farm. Each piece of land is so apportioned as 
to make it nearly as valuable as any other piece in 
the whole area. One thousand different divisions 
are thus made. Each member pays one thousandth 
part of the entire cost. A drawing is then made, 
on the same principal as the recent Oklahoma draw¬ 
ing for Government land; which entitled selection 
to be made in the order in which the number drawn 
indicated. The drawing is made at the town estab¬ 
lished on the land. 

WHO SHALL HAVE THE PLACES OF 
HONOR? 

The following letter has been given to the press 
of the State of Washington; perhaps the two most 
prominent names are those of ex-Governors Ferry 
and Rogers : 

“The proposed ‘Hall of Fame’ in connection with 
the Louisiana Purchase Exposition promises to do 
more to develop the unwritten history of the United 
States than could be done so well in any other way. 
In connection with It the Valley Press Bureau has 
received and supplied to the daily press a collection 
of preliminary nominations representing all the states 
and territories of the Louisiana Purchase as well as 


Texas and the north Pacific states. But these nomi¬ 
nations were merely preliminary and to insure for 
the idea its largest possible amount of expert opin¬ 
ion. Will you not kindly suggest for your state two 
names of historical persons no longer living as most 
suitable to represent it in a collection embracing the 
busts or statues of those who have done most to 
make history, and give in connection with it your 
suggestions of the history they have helped to make. 
As it is important to the work to secure the largest 
possible publicity, we will thank you to secure publi¬ 
cation of the request, giving your own suggestion 
111 connection with it, and calling on others to make 
nominations. All correspondence with this bureau 
will receive careful attention, and will be submitted 
in proper shape to the Louisiana Purchase Exposi¬ 
tion Company. Respectfully yours, 

“W. V. BYARS, 
“Manager Valley Press Bureau.” 


THE SPOKANE FALLS (Wash.) Land Dis¬ 
trict’s report for the quarter ending December 31, 
1901, shows there are opportunities in that district 
to secure homes, timber and mines. The following 
is a statement of the business transacted: 


Acres. 

2 original desert land entries. 360. 

16 commutation proofs.... 2,172.05 

1 final desert land entry. 160. 

Isolated tract sales. 492.60 

7 timber and stone entries. . . 1,035.66 

4 mineral entries. 156.081 

301 homesteads, fees and 

commissions .43,477.75 

17 homesteads, Colville In¬ 
dian Reservation. 2,431.06 

52 final proofs. ^,285.25 

2 timber culture proofs. 320.00 

13 mineral applications.... 

1 N. P. R. R. selection. 171.12 

8 timber and stone applica¬ 
tions .. 

6 excess homestead applic’ns 51.30 

3 soldier’s declaratory state¬ 
ments . 480.00 

Contest testimony fees and 
•cancellations . 


90.00 

5H30.I3 

160.00 

6i575 

2,589.16 

785.00 


5773-99 


251.20 

455-12 

8.00 

130.00 

4.00 

80.00 

64.14 

9.00 


272.86 


58,592.871 $16,834.30 

There were 1398 homestead entries made during 
the year 1901, aggregating 203,469.82 acres, the 
fees and commissions amounting to $17,140.42. 

























JAN IS 1902 


8 


PUBLIC LAND. 


Land Offices and Officers of the United States. 


E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior Department, Washington, D. C- 
Binger Hermann, Commissioner General Land Office, Washington, D. C 


Alabama— 

Huntsville. 

Montgomery. 

Alaska— 

Rampart. 

Sitka. 

St. Michael. 

Arizona— 

Prescott. 

Tucson. 

Arkansas— 

Camden. 

Dardanelle. 

Harrison. 

Little Rock. 

California— 

Eureka. 

Independence. 

Los Angeles. 

Marysville. 

Redding. 

Sacraemnto. 

San Francisco ... 

Stockton. 

Susanville. 

Visalia. 

Colorado— 

Akron. 

Del Norte. 

Denver. 

Durango. 

Gunnison. 

Glenwood Springs 

Hugo. 

Leadville. 

Larnar. 

Montrose. 

Pueblo. 

Sterling. 

Florida— 

Gainesville. 

Idaho— 

Blackfoot. 

Boise. 

Coeur d’Alene.... 

Hailey.. 

Lewiston. 

Iowa— 

Des Moines. 

Kansas— 

Colby. 

Dodge City. 

Topeka. 

Wakeeny. 

Louisiana— 

Natchitoches. 

New Orleans. 

Michigan— 

Marquette. 

Minnesotar— 

Crookston. 

Duluth. 

Marshall. 

St. Cloud. 

Mississippi— 

Jackson. 

Missouri— 

Boonville. 

Ironton. 

Springfield. 

Montana— 
Bozeman. 


REGISTER. 

John A. Steele. 

Robert Barker. 

P. M. Kulltn. 

John W. Dudley. 

Franklin Moses. 

Fredrick A. Tritle, Jr.. 
Milton R. Moore. 

Charles T. Duke. 

Joseph H. Battenfield.. 
John I. Worthington... 
Harry H. Myers. 

Henry A. Olesten. 

Stafford W. Austin... 
Angus J. Crookshank. 

Frank W. Johnson_ 

Frank M. Swasey. 

Thomas Fraser. 

Aaron B. Hunt. 

John D. Maxey. 

Thomas S. Roseberry. 
Geo. W. Stewart. 

Peter Campbell. 

James H. Baxter. 

Charles D. Ford. 

Fredrick C. Perkins... 

Melvin A. Deering. 

John F. Squire. 

Lon E. Foote. 

Wat T. Beall. 

Willia mA. Merrill. 

James A. Layton. 

John R. Gordon. 

David C. Fleming. 

Walter G. Robinson... 

Lorenzo R- Thomas... 

James King. 

David H. Budlong- 

Neal J. Sharp. 

John B. West. 

Thornton S. Howard.. 

Kleber E. Wilcockson. 

Thomas A. Scates. 

George W. Fisher. 

Isaac T. Purcell. 

J. Ernest Breda. 

Walter L. Cohen.. 

Thomas Scadden. 

Sylvester Peterson.... 
William E. Culkin.... 

Cyrus P. Shepard. 

Myron D. Taylor.. 

James Hill. 

William H. Martin.... 

George Steel. 

Martin V. Gideon.. 

Albert L. Love 


RECEIVER. 
Hersohel V. Cashin. 
John C. Leftwich. 

Wm. R. Edwards. 
Albert J. Apperson. 
Albert E. Rose. 

John C. Martin. 

John H. Bauman. 

Edward A. Shiclcer. 
John G. Chitwood. 
Felix S. Baker. 

John E. Bush. 

James F. Thompson. 
Frank E. Densmore. 
Arthur W. Kinney. 
Henry Malloch. 

Lloyd L. Carter. 
William A. Newcum 
Sargent S. Mortin. 
George A. McKenzie. 
Alfred H. Taylor. 
Othello Scribner. 

George W. Warner. 
Peter F. Barclay. 
Benjamin K Kimberly 
Daniel L. Sheets. 

Miss Martha C. Brown 
James W. Ross. 

John P. Dickinson. 
Fred Butler. 

C. Frost Liggett. 

John E. Pelton. 

John J. Lambert. 
Charles B. Timberlake 

Henry S. Chubb. 

George B. Rogers. 
Edward E. Garrett. 
Charles D. "Warner. 
Wm. A. Hodgman. 
Charles H. Garby. 

Stephen J. Loughran. 

Cyrus Anderson. 

Lewis J. Pettijohn. 
Rudolph B. Welch. 
Frank W. King 

Charles J. Greene. 
Charles P. Johnston. 

John Jones. 

August F. George. 

Jay M. Smith. 
Christopher F. Case. 
Alva Eastman, 

George E. Matthews, 

Herman Schmidt. 

C. Sanford Russell. 
George A. Ramsey. 

Andrew J. Edsall. 


Helena. 

Kalispell. 

Lewistown. 

Miles City. 

Missoula. 

Nebraska— 

Alliance. 

Bi'oken Bow. 

Lincoln. 

McCook. 

North Platte. 

O’Neill. 

Sidney. 

Valentine_ 

Nevada— 

Carson City. 

New Mexico— 

Clayton.. 

Las Cruces. 

Roswell.. 

Santa Fe. 

North Dakota— 

Bismarck.. 

Devil’s Lake. 

Fargo. 

Grand Fonts. 

Minot. 

Oklahoma— 

Alva. 

♦El Reno. 

Enid. 

Guthrie. 

Kingfisher. 

♦Lawton. 

Mangum. 

Oklahoma. 

Perry. 

Woodward. 

Oregon— 

Burns. 

La Grande. 

Lakeview.. 

Oregon City. 

Roseburg. 

The Dalles. 

South Dakota— 

Aberdeen. 

Chamberlain. 

Huron. 

Mitchell_.'. 

Pierre. 

Rapid City.. 

Watertown. 

Utah- 

Salt Lake City... 

Washington— 
North Yakima.... 

Olympia.. 

Seattle. 

Spokane. 

Vancouver. 

Walla Walla. 

Waterville. 

Wisconsin— 

Ashland. 

Eau Claire. 

Wausau. 

Wyoming— 

Buffalo. 

Cheyenne. 

Evanston... 

Douglas. 

Lander. 

Sundance. 


George D. Greene. 

Frank H. Nash_ 

Edward Brassey... 

Samuel Gordon. 

Elmer E. Hershey. 


Fred M. Dorrington.. 

James Whitehead. 

Joseph W. Johnson... 
Francis M. Rathbun. 

George E. French_ 

Stephen J. Weekes... 

Robley D. Harris. 

James C. Pettijohn... 

Oliver H. Gallup. 


Edward W. Fox. 
Emil Solignac.... 
Howard Leland.. 
Manuel R. Otero. 


Alex. C. McGillivray.. 

Ole Serumgard. 

Charles N. Valentine. 

Ernest H. Kent.'. 

Thomas B. Olsgard... 

Robert A. Cameron... 


James B. Cullison_ 

John Boles. 

Emory D. Brownlee.. 
Henry D. McNight. 

John A. Trotter. 

Seymour S. Price. 

Alfred H. Boles. 

Frank D. Healy. 


George W. Hayes. 

Edward W. Bartlett.. 

Eldon M. Brattain_ 

Charles B. Moores_ 

Joseph T. Bridges. 

Jay P. Lucas. 


John Horsky. 

William C. Whipps. 
Louis W. Eldridge. 
James M. Rhoades. 
William O. Ranft. 

William R. Akers. 
Frank H. Young. 
Thomas P. Kennard. 
Joel A. Piper. 

Prank Bacon. 

D. Clem Denver. 

James L.McIntosh, Jr 
Albert L. Towle. 

David H. Hall. 

Albert W. Thompson. 
Henry D. Bowman. 
David L. Geyer. 
Edward F. Hobart. 

John Satterlund. 
Henry E. Baird. 
De’Witt C. Tufts. 
Christian L. Lindstrom 
Abner . Hanscom. 

William J. French. 


John S. Vetter. 

William V. Lucas.. 
Charles A. Blake... 
George E. Foster... 

Albert Wheelon. 

George P. Bennett.. 
Lee Stover. 


Frank D. Hobbs. 


Walter J. Reed. 

Frank G. Deckebach. 
Edward P. Tremper.. 

William H. Ludden_ 

William R. Dunbar... 

John M. Hill. 

Matthew B. Malloy_ 


August Doenitz. 

Alfred Cvpreansen.... 
John W. Miller. 


David W. Eastman. 
Fredrick E. McKinley. 
Jacob V. Admire. 

Limes D. Maguire. 

John A. Oliphant. 
Anton H. Classen. 

Joel R. Scott. 

John W. Miller. 

Charles Newell. 
Samuel O. Swackhamer 
Harry Bailey. 

William Galloway. 
James H. Booth. 

Otis Patterson. 

Frank A. Brown. 
Charles L. Brockway. 
John Westdahl. 
Thomas C. Burns. 
Henry E. Cutting. 
William S. Warner. 
George W. Case. 

George A. Smith. • 

Miles Cannon. 

John O’B. Scobey. 
Columbus T. Tyler. 
Samuel A. Wells. 

Lynn B. Clough. 
Thomas Mosgrove. 
Lucien E. Kellog. 

Du portal G. Sampson 

Alexander Meggett. 

Henry G. McCrossen. 


Prince A. Gatchell_ 

William E. Chaplin... 

Charles Kingston. 

Albert D.Chamberlain. 

William T. Adams_ 

Alpha E. Hoyt. 

♦ Officers that have just been established to 
from the.Kiowa and Comanche reservations. 


Ephraim H. Smock. 
Edward A. Slack. 
Frank M. Foote. 
Merris C. Barrow. 

Mrs. Minnie Williams. 
Samuel A. Young, 
accomodate the business 


am new Opportunities for Vou and 
Vllvu Vour friends, « • • * « 

For a limited time “PUBLIC LAND” will be sent to five 
different addresses when sent in by one person for five dollars. 

Each issue of “PUBLIC LAND” will contain more of value 
to the subscriber interested in public land matters than the full 
price of the year’s subscription. Some will receive a hundred 
times more. Get your friends to subscribe now. Send all re¬ 
mittances whenever possible by Post Office or Express Money 
Order, made payable to “PUBLIC LAND.” 

Office 124-25 Auditorium Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


Northwestern Business College, 

-809 Second Avenue, SPOKANE, WASH.- 

The leading: Business Training- School of the 
Inland Empire. Winter term opens Monday, 
January 6, 1902. Send for catalog-ue. 

==E. H. 1 HOMPSON, Principal ====== 








































































































































































































































ADVERTISEMENTS. 






f| 









FEED’S J. HOAGLAHD, 


Attorney at Law, 


ODESSA, 


WASHINGTON. 


J. W. MARSHALL, 


ATTEND THE 

Pnget Sound Business College 

for a practical, up-to-date business course. 
Bookkeeping, penmanship, stenography 
and typewriting. Send ten cents for sam¬ 
ple dozen cards and how you can earn 
some money during spare time. Address 
D. M. KNAUF, Principal, 903 Yakima aye., 
Tacoma, Wash. 


Attorney at Law. 


Practice in all the Courts. 


m Auditorium Blk., SPOKANE, WASH. 

100,000 Acres Vacant Govern¬ 
ment Land in Lincoln County 
Washington. 

Get a “PUBLIC LAND ” blue print 
map of Lincoln County, Washington. It 
g hows you the exact description of over 

100,000 ACRES OF VA¬ 
CANT GOVERNMENT 


0. W. KENNEDY, 

Livery Stable#, 

Gentle Driving Horses. Good Drivers to 
show you the land you want to see. 
Everything first class. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 


DOUGLAS HOTEL, 
William Newlove, Prop., 

AMERICAN PLAN. 

H.Oe and $1.50 Per Day. 

Prompt, Neat, Clean Service. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 


Land in the famous “Big Bend’’ country. 
It is corrected up to date of purchase, is 
made'from the Land Office records, is 
absolutely correct and shows all the va¬ 
cant land in Lincoln County. Sent by 
mail on receipt of $2.50, address- 

“PUBLIC LAND” 

124-125 Auditorium Bldg. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 


WILSON CREEK LIVERY STABLE 
R. J. Armstrong, Prop. 

GOOD HORSES, GOOD RIGS, GOOD 
DRIVERS, FIRST CLASS 
SiSKVXCB* 

WTLS0N CREEK, WASHINGTON. 


WENTWORTH CLOTHING GO. 

Reliable Mens* and 
Boys’ Outfitters. 

709-11 Riverside Ave. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 


J. W. MeCONE, 

Farm and City Property For Sals 
or Exchange. 

MONEY TO LOAN. 

7-8 Sherwood Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 

johm mcdowell, 

united States Commissioner and 
Justice of the Peace. 

Gold Butte, Mont. 


S. Swenson, Clyde C. Henion, 

United States Commissioner. Notary Public* 

SWENSON & HENION, 

Timber and Agricultural Bands. Homestead 
and timber locations. Agents townsite of New¬ 
port. 

Publishers of NEWPORT MINER, $r. 50 "peryear, 
NEWPORT, WASHINGTON. 


AUGUST MEYER 

DEALER IN 

PIANOS 


m 


u 


"Public Land” 

has made several of its readers over 

5500 

By bringing opportunities to their 
notice which they would not have 
learned in any other way. There 
are many more of these- 

5500 





pieces in store for those who read 

“Public Land” 


CLAIR HUNT, 

Civil Hngineor- 
U. S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor. 

BOSSBURG, - - WASHINGTON. 

INLAND PRINTING COMPANY, 

610-612 Sprague Ave. 

Print Anything. Try us with your 
next order. 

It will save you money. 

M. L. SCHERMERH0RN, 
United States Commissioner 


Th.iVs lot* good Vacant Agricultural Laud 
tributary to 

IiND, . - - WASHINGTON 


AND 

ORGANS 

919 Riverside Ave. 

SPOKANE, WASH. 


Map ot Hi Cony, Milos 

A fine Blue Print Map of that part of 
Adams County, which is in the 
Spokane Falls, Washington Land 
District, comprising thirty-two town¬ 
ships and showing all the vacnat land 
in each township and corrected up 
to date will be sent by mail on re¬ 
ceipt of price—$2.50. Address 

“PUBLIC LAND" 

124-125 Auditorium Bldg. 

Spokane, Washington. 









































:~8~8~8~8~8~8~8~8-~8-^~8~8~8~8~«8-»8~8~8~8~8-*-8-*-8-*-8-*-8-*-8-*-8-*-8-*-8~8~8-*-8"*-8-<p 

Walton & Goodsell, Land Attorneys 


Leave of absence from your Homestead. Applications to 
amend your Homstead and making of all papers pertaining to 
Public Lands. Contests, protests and other bearings before 
any U. S. Land Office. The Commissioner of the General 
Land Office and the Interior Department. Mining Applica¬ 
tions. Military Bounty Land Warrants. Forest Reserve, 
Soldier’s Additional Homestead, and all other Land Scrips 
bought and sold. We can get your tangles straightened with¬ 
out your coming to the office 


Office Rooms 124-25 Auditorium Block, Phone Main 369 


, Washingto: 


J-*8-*-8-*-8-*-8-*-8-*-8-8-~8~8-*-8-*-8-*-8--8--8-»-8-*-8-*-88-*-8-»-8-*-8~8-*-8-*-8-«-8-**8-»-8-*-8-*-8-*-8-**8-*-8-*-8-*-8-»-8-«J 


FREE HOMESTEADS 

I know the location of several first-class pieces of 
Government Land that can be secured under the 
Homestead Law, in 

Douglas County, Washington 

upon which I will locate persons desiring homesteads. 
This land is fine agricultural prairie land and is es¬ 
pecially adapted to wheat raising, being situated in 
what is known as the Big Bend Country of Eastern 
Washington, the banner wheat country of the State. 

W. H. BURNS, 

Wilson Creek, Washington 
Enquire at Bank of Wilson Creek. 



400 HOMESTEAD CLAIMS IN ADAMS 
COUNTY, STATE OF WASHINGTON. 

We have a Blue Print Map showing the exact 
location of all the vacant land in that part of Adams 
county, state of Washington, that is within the Spo¬ 
kane Falls district, which is corrected up to date, 
that we will give to every club raiser who sends us 
in ten paid yearly subscribers at one dollar each. The 
regular price of the map is $2.50. 





















rfortfr?M£/?/d W£//op£ o£ £//£mr/o/y. 



© 


PVBLISHED 


WEEKLY. 


DEVOTED TO THOSE 
INTERESTED IN^ 
THE PVBLIC LAUDS 

— O f •—' 

THE VHITED STATES 


$1.50 ?ER YEAR 
in ADVANCE. 


wm//////////////m 




Vol. i. No. 22. Spokane, Wash., Jan.. 14, 1902. Single Copies, 10 Cents 


CONTENTS. 


Editorial— 

Settlers Protect Your Rights.. . 1 


Water Thrift. 1 


Current Topics— 

Attorney General Strong ...... 2 

The Santa Clara Valley. 2 


A Colony of Iowa Farmers .... 2 
Cedar Rapids Improvement Co. 2 
One Thousand German Families 2 


Minerals and Timber— 

Oil has been Struck.. 3 

Natural Gas.• ■ • • 3 

Surveys to Alaska Copper Belt. 3 

The Great Northern R. R. 3 

Senator Lodge. 3 


The Coeur d’Alene Land Office. 3 
Here are a few Worlds to Con¬ 
quer . 3 

New Opportunities— 

North Half Colville Reservation 4 
San Jacinto Forest Reserve .... 4 

Land Laws and Decisions— 

Occasional Visits Wont Do .... 5 
An Important Decision on New 


Points. 5 

Miscellany— 

Answers to Subscribers. 7 

Water Thrift—Con. 7 


Land Offices and Officers of the 
United States (corrected).... 8 














































ADVERTISEMENTS. 


C. H. HOLDEN, 


Attorney at Law. 


Choice timber lands In large or small 
tracts. Timber land cruised and estimates 
given. Government lands located. Fruit 
lands. Ranch land. Grazing land for sale. 
Climate unsurpassed; no cold, no heat, 
lands, ranch land, grazing land for sale, 
no cyclones. Correspondence solicited. 


FLORENCE, OREGON. 


ROLLIH J. REEVES, 


United States Commissioner, 


WILBUR, 


WASHINGTON. 


SIDNEY MOOR HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

In and for District of Washington. 


HO QUIA M, 


WASHINGTON. 


A. R. SWANSON, 
United States Commissioner, 


Notary Public, Loans 
and Collections—Conveyancer 


WILSON CREEK, 


WASHINGTON. 


CUMMING BROS. & POWELL, 
Choice Timber and Homestead Loca¬ 
tions on Government Land. 

TIMBER CRUISED AND ESTIMATES GIVEN 

Fruit, grazing and ranch lands and pine and 
cedar timber for sale. 


801V4 Riverside Ave. 


SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


LAND SCRIP 


-FOR 


Surveyed or Unsuneyed 

Government Land, lowest prices, 
and quick delivery. We also 
have some choice saw mill loca¬ 
tions, and timber lands in white 
pine belt of Northern Idaho. 

New Northwestern lumber Co., 

62-63 Jir*s»r Block. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


UNITED STATES COMMISSIONERS 


ALABAMA 

ELLIOTT G. RICKARBY, 

United States Commissioner 

86 St. Michaels St., MOBILE 

COLORADO 

H. A. WILDHACK, 

United States Commissioner 

MEEKER 


CALIFORNIA. 

J. WILL SMITH, 

Attorney and U. S. Commissioner 

SANTA BARBARA 


IDAHO 

JAMES DeHAVEN, 

United States Commissioner 

GRANGEVILLE 


T. D. HASTIE, 
United States Commissioner 


OROFINO 


ILLINOIS. 

SIMEON. W KING, 

United States Commissioner 

Room 941, Monadnock Block, CHICAGO 


MONTANA 

JOHN McDOWELL, 

United States Commissoner 

GOLD BUTTE 


NEW MEXICO. 

W. S. GEORGE, 

U. S. Court Commissioner, Mining 
Engineer, Mines, Farm Lands, etc. 

COONEY, SOCARRO COUNTY 


WASHINGTON 

A. R. SWANSON, 

United States Commissoner 

WILSON CREEK 

SIDNEY MOOR HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

HOQUIAM 


ROLLIN J. REEAVES, 
United States Commissioner 


WILBUR 


J. W. MARSHALL, 

Attorney and United States Commissoner 
Auditorium, SPOKANE 

M. L. SCHERMERHORN, 

United States Commissioner 

LIND 


H. S. SWENSON, 
United States Commissioner 


NEWPORT 


WYOMING. 

ORIN HTWOODS, 
United States Commissioner 


BASIN 


HOMES FOR THE H0MESEEKER8 

LANDS FOR THE LANDLESS. 

We have a large list of the choicest 
farming lands in the Big Bend and 
throughout the Inland Empire. Improved 
farms $16 to $20 per acre. This Is the seo- 
tlon that produces 30,000,000 bushels of 
wheat per annum. Fine fruit; no failures; 
ideal climate. Money placed for non-resi¬ 
dents on first mortgages on first class 
land. Trantum & Schoonover. Odessa, Wsu 


JNO. JAS. GRAVES, 


Justice of the Peace, Hotary Public, 
Conveyancer, Real Estate, 


METERS FALLS, 


WASHINGTON. 


J. B. ZIEGLER, 

Notary Public, Real Estate and Fir# 
Insurance Agent. 

IMPROVED FARM LAND8, RAW 
LANDS AND TOWN PROPER¬ 
TIES FOR SALE. 


Prices and Terms will bs Furnished 
Promptly. 


ODESSA, 


Office on First Avenue. 

WASHINGTON. 





Quickly secured. OUR FEE DUE WHEN PATENT 
OBTAINED. Send model, sketch or photo, with 
description for free report as to patentability. 48-PAGE 
HAND-BOOS FREE. Contains references and full 
information. WRITE FOR COPT OF OUR SPECIAL 
OFFER. It is the most liberal proposition ever made by 
a patent attorney, and EVERY INVENTOR SHOULD 
READ IT before applying for patent. AddreM: 

H.B.UM1SWUC0. 

PATfTfd'Y LA 

Le Droit Bldg., WASHINGTON, D. C. 


Free Homesteads. 


There are over 100 good quarter sections with 
in short distance of the Great Northern Railroad 
that are subject to homestead entry, the same 
kind of land that produced 40 bushels of wheat 
to the acre this year. We have an accurate 
knowledge of these vacant tracts and will locate 
desirable parties on them at very reasonable 
rates. Call on 


H. E. STONE, 

With O. W. Stone Undertaking Co. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON 

























































PUBLIC LAND. i 


W£// 0 /t£/TM£/? /J 7 f/£f/ 0 P£ 0 £'TM/MW/t 



Offices 1,24-125 Auditorium Bldg., Spokane, Wash. 


ADVERTISING RATKS ON APPLICATION. 
Entered at Spokane, Wash., as Second Class Mail Matter. 
Copyrighted 1901 by Walton & Goodsell. 


Vol. 1 . Spokane, Wash , Jan. 14,1902. ISlo. 22. 


SETTLERS PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS. 

This communication is particularly addressed to 
those settlers in the State of Idaho who have located 
on unsurveyed timber lands. Thousands of acres 
of your land has been covered with scrip by the un¬ 
scrupulous. agents of strong companies and you are 
in very great danger of meeting with serious compli¬ 
cations, if not with the entire loss of your lands. 

Instructions were issued to the field locators by 
some of the companies to refrain from locating any 
lands upon which there was any mark sufficient to 
warrant the belief of a bona fide settlement, but not¬ 
withstanding this thousands of acres have been lo¬ 
cated in almost solid bodies and upon lands, which 
had been occupied, cultivated and improved for years 
by bona fide settlers. These field operators have 
gone heavily armed and the strain has been so great 
upon at least one of them that he has lost his mind. 

•The purpose of the companies is to get the claims 
“railroaded” through and passed upon by the 
Department, before the fifing of the township plats 
and consequently before any entry of the lands can be 
allowed the settlers. We have been informed that 
some of the locations have already passed the “gaunt¬ 
let” and it behooves every settler of unsurveyed lands 
in any of the timber belts where they know the tim- 
bermen to be operating to ascertain at once if any 
scrip has been located upon the lands claimed by 
them. Dozens of these settlers are already aware ot 
the scrip locations upon the lands claimed by them, 
but believe that their claims can be adjusted when the 
township plats are filed. We do not believe it can 


ever be done, so well as now, for the reason that if 
the scrip claim is suffered to pass the Department 
without objection, it can only be set aside, if at all, 
by an expensive course of litigation, and which 
might cost the settler more than the value of his 
claim. There are those who through ignorance or 
design will tell you that you cannot do anything 
about the matter until the township plants are filed, 
but if you follow such advice you may find that yes¬ 
terday’s business can not be transacted to-day. 


WATER THRIFT. 

The people of the western part of the United 
States are awakening to the advantages obtained 
by the use of water for irrigation purposes, and are 
making use of many opportunities to obtain water 
for irrigation, that were laughed at a few years ago. 
They are beginning to realize that a flowing spring 
while though it does not furnish a large volume per 
h our j does nevertheless furnish sufficient water to ir¬ 
rigate a large tract of garden land by carefully dis¬ 
tributing it over the available space. There are doz¬ 
ens of farms that were heretofore classed as dry 
that not only had no flowing water upon them, but 
where their owners had to go long distances in order 
to get water for their stock, where they now have 
an abundance of water for that purpose, and besides 
irrigating garden patches have sufficient stored to 
afford a fish pond. One instance of this kind is 
that of an old gentleman over seventy years of age 
who purchased one of these so-called dry ranches. 
There was a draw running across one corner of his 
land across which he built an embankment. In this 
way he prevented any water from running off his 
land. The rains and melting snow furnished him 
an abundance of water for his stock, enough to irri¬ 
gate a good plat in which he set an orchard as well 
as keeping a continuous, supply for a fish pond which 
he stocked after the second year. 

The development of this water system was done 
almost entirely, by this old gentleman and shows 
what may be accomplished in thousands of cases 
where the owners of the land will use the same, care¬ 
ful management in such matters as they would in 
planting and caring for a crop. In a very great 
number of cases the most valuable crop that touches 
the farm is the fall of rain and snow, and it is well 
known that there are very few of the “dry” farms 
upon which there is the least provision made for the 
accumulation of water even for stock purposes. 
Many settlers try to excuse themselves for this ne- 

(i Continued on Page 7.) 



























2 


PUBLIC LAND. 


CURRENT TOPICS. 


ATTORNEY GENERAL STRANG of Oklaho¬ 
ma has rendered an opinion which requires that the 
money obtained from the leasing of school lands in 
that Territory must hereafter be deposited with the 
Territorial Treasurer. The refunds received from 
this, soucre have heretofore been deposited in the 
Capital National Bank as a common account. This 
opinion on the part of the Attorney General was the 
result of a rule of Secretary of the Interior, Mr. 
Hitchcock, that the bank holding these funds should 
be required to furnish bond. The opinion addressed 
to Hon. Thompson B. Ferguson, Governor of the 
Territory of Oklahoma is in part as follows: 

“All funds received from the leasing of any public 
lands shall be deposited in some bank or banks desig¬ 
nated by the board in the names of the board and all 
disbursements shall be checks drawn on said account 
signed by the Secretary and countersigned by the 
Chairman of the board.” The first part of the last 
“half of the rule four is as follows: “The separate 
accounts of all moneys received from lands reserved 
for common schools, colleges and public buildings or 
other purposes respectfully shall be kept and all 
moneys accruing to the fund for colleges and public 
buildings shall be turned over b> the treasurer as pro¬ 
vided by law and the money for common schools shall 
be turned over to the said treasurer on the first day 
of each month.” Taking this rule, together and con- 
siderning it in connection with the authority of the 
board and also considering the fact that the money 
arising from the several sources mentioned therein, 
will be better safeguard by being turned over to the 
treasurer and by him placed in the territorial deposi¬ 
tory so that it may be covered by a bond, I am satis¬ 
fied that such action on the part of the board would 
not be such an infraction of rule as that it would be 
held to be a breach of the instructions of the secre¬ 
tary of the interior. This whole subject matter be¬ 
ing under the control of the secretary of the interior, 
and it being well known that he is anxious that these 
moneys should be properly safeguarded, and it being 
my judgment that such action on the part of the 
board furnishes the best and surest method for the 
protection of said moneys, I am of the opinion that 
the secretary will promptly and gladly approve of the 
action of the board in turning this money over to 
the treasurer of the territory. It must be understood 
that rule four is not an act of congress, but is mere¬ 
ly an instruction formulated by the interior depart¬ 


ment for the leasing of the school lands and the dis¬ 
position of the proceeds arising therefrom and that 
any modification by the board for leasing school 
lands which better protects the funds arising from 
the leasing of such lands fail to receive the 
approval and ratification of the interior de¬ 
partment. These funds when turned over to the 
treasurer will be deposited by him in the territorial 
depository as a special fund to be held by him sub¬ 
ject to the order of the board for leasing of school 
lands and whenever such funds are to be distributed, 
the secretary of the board can draw orders which 
shall be signed by himself and countersigned by the 
chairman of the board, on the territorial treasurer 
for the disbursement of said fund in accordance with 
the distribution made by said board. The funds 
arising from the leasing of lands will then be held 
practically at disposition of the board for the leasing 
of school lands and at the same time will be protected 
by being placed in the hands of the treasurer and by 
him deposited in the territorial depository and by 
such depository convered by a surety bond. It is my 
judgment that this may not be done, but that it should 
be done for the protection of these funds.” 


THE SANTA CLARA VALLEY Land Com¬ 
pany was incorporated at San Jose, California, last 
week with a capitalization of $400,000. $150,000 

worth of stock has been subscribed by C. M. Woos¬ 
ter, A. K. Witton and W. F. Parker of San Joes, and 
J. W. Henderson and W. W. Allen of San Fran¬ 
cisco. 


A COLONY OF IOWA FARMERS have incor¬ 
porated and acquired title to a large tract of land on 
the Isle of Pines which lies just south of Cuba. The 
company has been organized under the laws of the 
State of Iowa and it is their purpose to arrange"for a 
extensive colonization of the island by farmers from 
Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. 

THE CEDAR RAPIDS IMPROVEMENT 
COMPANY was organized last week at Lincoln, 
Nebraska, with a capitalization of $20,000 for the 
purpose of embarking in the land business, the incor¬ 
porators are Seth A. Hadley, Addie B. Hadley, N. 
E. Southwell, Franklin H/Head and John Stuart 
Crosby. 


ONE THOUSAND GERMAN FAMILIES 
are to form a colony and will settle in Greer County, 
Oklahoma. Each family is to have forty acres. 









PUBLIC LAND. 


3 


MINERALS AND TIMBER. 


OIL HAS BEEN STRUCK in the Paraffine Oil 
Company’s well near Nampa, Oregon. The extent 
of the flow has not been determined as it is not a 
gusher and until it is cased and pumps obtained noth¬ 
ing definite can be ascertained as to its value. 


NATURAL GAS was encountered last week near 
Everett, Washington. Parties.were drilling for ar¬ 
tesian water and when the drill was at a depth of 
five hundred feet, it was blown out and high into the 
air by the escaping gas. One of the workmen re¬ 
turned to the well soon after the explosion and was 
immediately overcome and died in a few hours from 
the effects of the gas. 

SURVEYS TO THE ALASKA COPPER 
BELT are now being run preliminary to the con¬ 
struction of a railroad from Pyramid Harbor to the 
Rainy Hollow district. The construction of this line 
would also top the Porcupine district and the. country 
tributary. The line will be about seventy miles long 
and will traverse a rich mineral belt nearly the whole 
distance. The Rainy Hollow district is particularly 
rich in copper although in addition to about twenty 
per cent copper the ore carries four to seven dollar 
per ton in gold. 


THE GREAT NORTHERN R. R. is contemp¬ 
lating the construction of a line of road to run from 
Ferrie, B. C., to connect with the Northern Pacific 
at a point near Missoula. This branch of road will 
not only open the way for an unlimited market for 
the Crows Nest coal fields, but will afford transpor¬ 
tation facilities for the Flathead oil fields which are 
attracting so much attention at the present time. 
The distance from transportation has prevented a 
close settlement of the rich grazing and agricultural 
lands in the vicinity of the Flathead Reservation. 
Altogether the road will pass through a very promis¬ 
ing section of country in which there are very many 
opportunities for the stockmen, miner and farmer. 

SENATOR LODGE, chairman of the Philippine 
committee introduced his Philippine bill last week 
which among other things provides for the disposal 
of the public lands in the Philippine Islands. This 
provides of course for perfecting title in those who 
have held parcels of land for long periods of time 
without any record claim as well as for those who 
shall take up the land under existing conditions. 


The timber lands are not to be disposed of but license 
will be issued under proper regulation for cutting 
and disposing of the timber. The mineral lands' will 
have a separate and distinct set of laws governing 
their appropriation and sale, which have been drawn 
with a view to harmonize them with the present 
Spanish customs, which hold in the Philippines,. 

The Coeur d’Alene Land Office at Coeur d’Alene, 
Idaho, was a busy office during the year just past as 
is shown by the following statement of the business 
transacted from January i, 1901, to December 31, 
1901. 

Acres. 

Hd. entries, fees and com. . 76,904.38 $11,429.00 

Cash entries.,28,904.31 67,749,20 

Final proofs, Mineral en¬ 
tries, R. R. and School 

land selections, etc.164,082.00 13,980.30 

The business of this office is conducted by D. H. 
Budlong, Register, and C. D. -Warner, Receiver. 


HERE ARE A FEW WORLDS TO CONQUER. 

IOWA has a U. S. Land Office, but no vacant 
land. 


ARIZONA HAS 48,000,000 ACRES OF LAND 
SUBJECT TO ENTRY. 


ARKANSAS has 3,000,000 acres of vacant land 
upon which to settle travelers. 


IDAHO BOASTS of 42,000,000 acres of vacant 
land and of all kinds and varieties. 


MICHIGAN HAS little room left for the timber- 
men but has 400,000 acres for settlers. 


THERE ARE STILL VACANT and unappro¬ 
priated, approximately, 312,630 acres in Alabama. 


KANSAS HAS PLENTY of room for prohibi¬ 
tion, enterprise and settlers on her 1,000,000 acres of 
vacant land. 


NEBRASKA HAS 9,000,000 acres of grazing 
and semi-arid lands that may be had over Uncle 
Sam’s counter. 


COLORADO OWNS 3,650,000 acres which she 
wants to sell besides having about 35,000,000 acres 
of vacant Government land within her limits. 




























4 


PUBLIC LAND. 


NEW OPPORTUNITIES. 


THE NORTH HALF OF THE COLVILLE 
RESERVATION located about eightv-five miles 
northwest of Spokane, and which was opened to set¬ 
tlement and entry October io, 1900, still offers op¬ 
portunities for a large number of settlers to secure 
homes and timber land and for the miner and pios- 
pector to secure mines. 

At the present time homesteaders are required to 
pay $1.50 per acre, 50c of which is to be paid within 
two years after date of entry and the balance when 
proof is made, in addition to the regular Land Office 
fees, and as a consequence people have avoided set¬ 
tling upon anything but the choicest lands, so there 
yet remains quite a number of good claims. There 
is a large part of this Reservation still unsurveved, 
a portion of which is good land upon which filings 
can not be made at the present time, but which could 
be settled upon and when the survey is made the set¬ 
tlers would have three months in which to place his 
entry of record. Any person looking for a good 
stock country would do well to look over the advan¬ 
tages offered by this Reservation as it is an excellent 
hay and bunch grass country. The mining possi¬ 
bilities are practically undeveloped, there being a 
portion of the Reservation that has not been pros¬ 
pected besides numbers of promising claims unde¬ 
veloped. There are two railroads building across 
this Reservation wdiich will, when completed, give 
ample shipping facilities. 

There is a bill now pending before Congress, in¬ 
troduced by Hon. W. L. Jones of Washington, pro¬ 
viding for free homesteads upon the North Half of 
the Colville Reservation which will in all probability 
pass this session. 


SAN JACINTO FOREST RESERVE. 

We are in receipt of the following letter from Reg¬ 
ister August J. Crookshank of the Los Angeles Land 
Office, concerning the eliminations that are soon to 
be made from that Reserve: 

UNITED STATES LAND OFFICE, 

Los Angeles, California, January 6, 1902. 
Editor Public Land, Spokane, Washington: 

Sir: 

Further replying to your inquiry of December 30, 
1901, relative to lands in Townships 8, 9 and 10 
South, Range 8 East, S. B. M. I have to say that 
these lands will be open to settlement and entry on 
April 1st, 1902, except the old numbered sections 


which belong to the Southern Pacific Railroad Com¬ 
pany and sections 16 and 36 in each township which 
are State school lands! sections 1, 2 and 12 in Town¬ 
ship 8 South Range 8 East are reserved for the In¬ 
dians residing thereon. The western portion of this 
township is unsurveyed. 

This land may be taken up under either the home¬ 
stead or the desert land act. The former act requires 
that th* entryman enter upon and establish actual 
residence on the land within six months from date of 
entry in the Land Office. The entryman must then 
continue to reside upon, cultivate and improve his 
land for five years, when he can make final proof and 
obtain title to his claim. The fees for making entry 
of' 160 acres would be $22 and at date of final proof 
$12. 

Under the desert land act settlement is not re¬ 
quired, but the entryman is obliged to pay to the 
Land Office 25 cents per acre at the time of filing ap¬ 
plication to the land and expend not less than $1.00 
per acre each year for three years toward reclaiming 
the land, and to pay to the Land Office $1.00 per acre 
on making final proof of full reclamation, which 
must be made within four years from date of entry, 
and one eighth of the land at that date must be in ac¬ 
tual cultivation. 

This office has no definite knowledge as to the 
character of the land. Opinions of those who have 
seen it differ materially as to its value, but from what 
we have heard we are inclined to the opinion that the 
greater portion of this land is outside of the artesian 
belt and therefore of but little value for agricultural 
purposes. 

We cannot undertake to give advice in the matter 
of selection of claims; each person must examine the 
land, judge and choose for himself. 

We have no maps showing surveys of these lands 
for distribution, neither have we any descriptive 
matter of the lands or their productive capacity. 

These lands are situated some five to ten miles 
from the Southern Pacific Railroad, and some twen 
tv-five miles southeast of Indio. 

Very respectfully, 

A. J. CROOKSHANK, 
Register. 


MINNESOTA writes 4,000,000 acres vacant 
over the door of her Land Offices. 


MISSISSIPPI can afford lands for the settlement 
of one hundred and fifty northern men and give them 
160 acres each. 












PUBLIC LAND. 


5 


LAND LAWS AND DECISIONS. 

OCCASIONAL VISITS WONT DO. 
UNITED STATES LAND OFFICE. 

Spokane Falls, Wash., December 26, 1901. 

Wilbert H. Place, contestant, vs. Fred G. Bier, 
contestee. 

Involving the NW. x /\ of Sec. 32, Twp. 21, N. R., 
31 E. W. M, 

DECISION OF REGISTER AND RECEIVER. 

On October 19, 1901, Wilbert H. Place filed con¬ 
test affidavit against Hd. entry No. 11844 made 
March 28, 1900, by Fred G. Bier for the N. W. J 4 
of Sec. .32, Twp. 21, N. R. 31 E., alleging abandon¬ 
ment and failure to establish residence, etc. 

Hearing was had at this office on December 23, 
1901, at which time all parties to the case appeared, 
the contestant appearing in person and being repre¬ 
sented 'by his attorneys Walton & Goodsell and the 
Contestee appearing in person and being represented 
by Thomas T. Kerl, his attorney. 

From the testimony submitted in the case we find 
that Fred G. Bier, the entryman, has been employed 
in the hardware business at Scott Station, Adams 
County, Washington, being employed by the Ritz- 
ville Hardware Company for the last four years; that 
he made this entry on the 28th day of March, 1900, 
and a month or two thereafter he built a small house 
upon the land and made some arrangements with Mr. 
PI. Hollenberg to do some plowing upon the ground; 
that Hollenberg plowed about ten acres of the land; 
that at the time the entryman erected his house upon 
the ground he stayed one night and day upon the* 
land; that since that time it has been his endeavor to 
spend at least one night upon the land each six 
months; that the only residence that he has made 
upon this land has been by visiting it once 
in six months, arriving on the land between 
three and five o’clock in the afternoon, spend¬ 
ing the night and leaving some time during 
the next day; that he was a single man, was 
living or boarding at the place where he was em¬ 
ployed a number of miles from the land. 

It has been repeatedly held by the Department that 
mere visits to the land to keep up the fiction of a resi¬ 
dence does not constitute a compliance with the law 
as to residence, see IOth L. D., page 472 also nth 
L. D., page 469. Also the case of Strong vs. Maher, 
4th L. D., page 235, West vs. Owen, 4th L. D., page 
412, also in the case of Elliott vs. Lee 4th L. D., page 


301, it was held by the Department “that sleeping 
on the claim a night with hasty visits to the land at 
long intervals thereafter, has always been held by 
the Department as insufficient to- establish or main¬ 
tain residence. 

This case was also followed by the case of R. N. 
Chrisinger, 4th L. D., page 347. 

The fact that the entryman was a single man does 
not excuse him from residing on his homestead. I11 
order to comply with the homestead law it is necessa¬ 
ry for the entryman, be he single or married, to- estab¬ 
lish his residence upon the land , entered within six 
months from the date of the entry and to reside there 
continuously thereafter to the exclusion of a home 
elsewhere.* 

We are therefore of the opinion that Fred G. Bier 
the entryman, has failed to establish his residence 
upon this land and has never made a continuous resi¬ 
dence upon the land involved ;that his entry should 
be canceled and that Wilbert H. Place should be al¬ 
lowed the preference right of entry. Fred G. Bier is 
allowed 30 days in which to appeal from this'decision. 

WILLIAM H. LUDDEN, 
Register 
S. A. WELLS, 
Receiver. 


AN IMPORTANT DECISION ON NEW 
POINTS OF LAW AND OUESTIONS 
OF PRACTICE. 

UNITED STATES LAND OFFICE, 
Spokane Falls, Washington, January 8, 1902. 

Christina Beck, contestant, vs. Jesse H. Sherman 
& Herbert Martell, contestees. Gustaf Plager, In¬ 
ter venor'. 

Involving the S. W. J 4 °f Sec. 20 Twp. 18 N. R. 
35 E. W. M. 

DECISION OF REGISTER AND RECEIVER. 

This Case was called for hearing November 14, 
1901, Christina Beck appearing in person and by her 
Attorney Adolph Munter and James H. Sherman 
and Herbert Martell being represented by Leo Wal¬ 
ton, their attorney. 

Gustaf Plager, Intervenor, appearing in person 
and by his attorney Leo Walton. 

Witnesses were called and testimony taken. 

The records of this office and the testimony in the 
case show the following state of facts. 

On February 15, 1899, Frank Bergman made 
Homestead entry No. 11103 for the S. W. jj of 
Sec. 20 Twp. 18 N. R-, 35 F. W. M. 

October 5, 1899, Herbert Martell filed a contest 












6 PUBLIC LAND. 


affidavit against said entry alleging that Frank Berg¬ 
man had never established his residence on said land 
and had wholly abandoned the same having changed 
his rsidence therefrom for more than six months, etc, 

On November 15, 1899, the above contest wai 
tried, all parties being present. November 28, 1899, 
this office rendered a decision in favor of the entry- 
man, Frank Bergman. 

This decision was afterwards reversed by the Hon. 
Commissioner by his letter “H” of September 28, 
1900, and by Hon. Commissioner’s letter “H” of 
January 7, 1901, the entry of Bergman was cancel¬ 
ed and Herbert Martell was allowed thirty days pref¬ 
erence right of entry. 

Notice of the cancellation of the entry and of 
preference right of entry was given by registered 
letter January nth, 1901, to the following’parties: 

Leo Walton, attorney for Herbert Martell, Adolph 
Munter, attorney for Frank Bergman, and Christina 
Beck, the present contestant. 

On February 14, 1900, Christina Beck’s home¬ 
stead application for the SW. 34 of Sec. 20, Twp. 
18, N. R. 35, E. W. M., together with the relinquish¬ 
ment of homestead entry No. 11103 of Frank Berg¬ 
man, was received by mail from U. S. Commissioner 
F. P. French of Ritzville, Washington. 

The relinquishment was filed and homestead entry 
No. 11103 of Frank Bergman for SW .*4 of Sec. 20, 
Twp. 18, N. R. 35, E., was canceled and the applica¬ 
tion of Christina Beck was suspended subject to the 
final determination of the contest of Martell pending 
before the Department at that time and Chrisina Beck 
was notified February 16, 1900, of the action taken 
by the following letter, to-wit: 

Spokane, Wash., Feb. 16; 1900. 
Christina Beck, 

Paha, Wash. 

Dear Madam :—I am in receipt of your home¬ 
stead application dated February 10, 1900, made for 
the SW. 34 of Sec . 20, Twp. 18, N. R. 35, E. W. M., 
transmitted to this office by F. P. French, U. S. Com¬ 
missioner, Ritzville, Washington, together with re¬ 
linquishment of Frank Bergman for his Hd. Entry 
No. 11103 made February 15, 1899, for the SW. *4 
of Sec. 20, Twp. 18, N. R. 35, E., the land for which 
you applied. Said relinquishment was signed and 
acknowledged by Mr. Bergman before F. P. French, 
U. S. Commissioner at Ritzville, Wash., on February 
10, 1900. 

Said relinquishment was filed in this office on Feb¬ 
ruary 14th, 1900, the date of its receipt here and the 
entry of Mr. Bergman for the SW. 34 °f Sec. 20, 


Twp. 18, N. R. 35, E., was canceled at 4 p. m. Feb¬ 
ruary 14, 1900, and your application for said land 
was suspended for the reason that on October 5, 
1899, Herbert Martell filed a contest affidavit agains 1 : 
the Hd. entry No. 11103 of Frank Bergman, alleg¬ 
ing that the said Frank Bergman had never establish¬ 
ed his residence on said land and had wholly aban¬ 
doned said tract and changed his residence therefrom 
for more than six months since making said entry 
and next prior to the date of said contest affidavit 
and further alleging that said tract was not settled 
upon and cultivated by Frank Bergman as required 
by law, etc. 

This contest was heard at this office November 15, 
1899, a H parties appearing and submitting testimony 
in the case. 

The decision of this office was rendered in favor 
of Frank Bergman November 28, 1899, and appeal 
and specification of errors was filed by Herbert Mar¬ 
tell December 25, 1899, and all the papers in the case 
were sent to the Commissioner of the General Land 
Office January 6, 1900, on appeal. 

You will therefore see that this entry is under con¬ 
test and now pending before the General Land Of¬ 
fice on appeal and in the event that the General Land 
Office should reverse the decision of this office and 
finally cancel Mr. Bergman’s entry, Herbert Martell 
would have the preference right to enter, but in the 
event that the General Land Office should affirm the 
decision of this office, then your homestead applica¬ 
tion would deceive further consideration. 

You are allowed thirty days in which to appeal 
from this decision and you are advised that I have 
this day transmitted a copy of this letter together 
with draft No. 3739 for $22 to F. P. French, at 
Ritzville, Wash. 

Very respectfully, 

William H. Ludden, Register. 

No further action was taken by Christina Beck 
until July 16th, 1901, at which time she filed an ap¬ 
plication for a hearing to determine her right to the 
land involved, which was transmitted to the Hon. 
Commissioner and a hearing was ordered by his let¬ 
ter “R” of Sept. 3, 1901. 

On February 16, 1901, Herbert Martell waived 
his preference right of entry to the land involved 
and Forest Reserve lieu selection was filed with the 
waiver of Martell by Jesse H. Sherman through 
Samuel J. Goodsell, his attorney in fact, under the 
Act of June 4th, 1897. 

The testimony shows that the Forest Reserve Lieu 
location under the Act of June 4, 1897, was made 









PUBLIC LAND. 


7 


for Herbert Martell in order to obtain title to the 
land without residence. 

That after having entered the land under the Act 
of June 4, 1897, Martell sold it, through his attorney 
in fact, Leo Walton, to Gustaf Plager for $1406, 
and that Plager has been cultivating and seeding 
the tract. 

The testimony as to the residence on the land of 
Christina Beck and as to the purchase of the improve¬ 
ments from Frank Bergman is very conflicting. 

Christina Beck testifies that she moved on to the 
land during the month of February, 1900, having 
purchased the improvements from Frank Bergman, 
the homestead entryman, and that she resided there 
until September, 1901. 

Other witnesses that were over the .land nearly 
every day testify that she was not living on the land 
but lived with her cousin Carl Beck on adjoining - 
land. 

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW. 

1st. The SW. of Sec. 20, Twp. 18, N. R. 35, 
E. W. M., was segregated from the public domain by 
the homestead entry No. 11103 made February 15, 
1899, by Frank Bergman. That it was not public 
land subject to settlement while said entry remained 
of record. 

2nd. That the contest of Herbert Martell took 
precedence of all claims filed subsequent to October 
5, 1899, the date of filing the contest. 

3rd. That Herbert Martell being the successful 
contestant had the preference right to enter said land 
for thirty days from January nth, 1901, and as the 
notice of his right to enter was given by registered 
mail he was entitled to ten days additional time, mak¬ 
ing forty days from January n, 1901. That his 
preference right of entry would expire February 20, 
1901. 

4th. That Christina Beck could gain m> rights by 
settlement prior to February 20, 1901, the date of the 
expiration of the preference right of Herbert Martell 
to enter the land. 

5th. That if Frank Bergman did sell his improve¬ 
ments to Christina Beck in February, 1900, he could 
give no title to the same as the contest of Herbert 
Martell was then pending against this entry. 

6th. That Christina Beck was a trespasser upon 
the land involved and gained no right whatever 
against the prior rights of Herbert Martell. 

7th. Herbert Martell had the right to exercise his 
preference right of entry in any manner pdovided 
by the law for obtaining title to land. See case of 
Robeson T. White, 30 L. D., 61, where it is held, 


‘In what manner or by what consideration the gov¬ 
ernment should be satisfied for the land was only 
matter of incident to the essential and principal 
thing—the. exercise of his preference right of entry.” 
(Middle of page 63.) 

8th. That the entry of the land by Herbert Martell 
under the Act of June 4, 1897, was a legal entry of 
said land and after said entry was made he had the 
right to convey the land to Gustaf Plager, the inter- 
venor herein. 

OPINION. 

We are therefore of the opinion that the applica¬ 
tion of Christina Beck should be rejected and the 
entry of the land involved under the Act of June 4. 
1897, be confirmed and patent issued to Jesse FI. 
Sherman for said land, thereby perfecting the entry 
made for Herbert Martell. 

Christina Beck is allowed thirty days in which to 
appeal from this decision. 

William H. Ludden, Register. 

S. A. Wells, Receiver. 

MISCELLANY. 


ANSWERS TO SUBSCRIBERS. 

Under this head complete answers will be given 
to subscribers’ questions concerning the public land 
of the United States. Name and address of each 
subscriber must be given with letter asking the 
question. 

L. M. K., Ritzville, Washington. 

1 made homestead entry about two years ago, am 
single, have made improvements on my homestead 
and have never been away from the land for more 
than six months at any time, do you think any one 
could' contest my entry and win it. 

Ans. Our best answer to this question may be 
found in the recent decision of the Local Office in the 
case of Wilbert H. Place vs. Fred G. Bier, reported 
in full on page five under LAND LAWS AND DE¬ 
CISIONS. 


(1 Continued from Page /.) 

gleet by insisting that the ground “won’t hold the 
water,” well the answer is that it can be made to do 
so, by sowing different grasses, several of which are 
particularly well adapted for that prrpose, and if 
there is a persistent break of the dam, a few old 
“gunny sacks” will work wonders. Run an embank¬ 
ment across a draw this winter and see what the ex¬ 
periment is worth. WATER IS MONEY if you 
can use it on land. 
















8 


PUBLIC LAND 


Land Offices and Officers of the United States. 


E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior Department, Washington, D. C- 
Binger Hermann, Commissioner General Land Office, Washington, D. G 


Alabama— 

Huntsville. 

Montgomery. 

Alaska— 

Rampart. 

Sitka. 

St. Michael. 

Arizona— 

Prescott. 

Tucson. 

Arkansas— 

Camden. 

Dardanelle. 

Harrison. 

Little Rock. 

California— 

Eureka. 

Independence. 

Los Angeles. 

Marysville. 

Redding. 

Sacraemnto. 

San Francisco ... 

Stockton. 

Susanville. 

Visalia. 

Colorado— 

Akron. 

Del Norte. 

Denver. 

Durango. 

Gunnison. 

Glenwood Springs 

Hugo. 

Leadville. 

Lamar. 

Montrose. 

Pueblo. 

Sterling. 

Florida— 

Gainesville. 

Idaho— 

Blackfoot. 

Boise. 

Coeur d’Alene.... 

Hailey. 

Lewiston. 

Iowa— 

Des Moines. 

Kansas— 

Colby. 

Dodge City. 

Topeka. 

Wakeeny... 

Louisiana— 

Natchitoches. 

New Orleans. 

Michigan— 

Marquette. 

Minnesota— 

Crookston. 

Duluth. 

Marshall. 

St. Cloud. 

Mississippi— 

Jackson. 

Missouri— 

Boonville. 

Ironton. 

Springfield. 

Montana— 
Bozeman. 


REGISTER. 

John A. Steele. 

Robert Barker. 

P. M. Nullen. 

John W. Dudley. 

Franklin Moses. 

Fredrick A. Tritle, Jr.. 
Milton R. Moore. 

Charles T. Duke. 

Joseph H. Battenfield.. 
John I. Worthington... 
Harry H. Myers. 

Henry A. Olesten. 

Stafford W. Austin... 
Angus J. Crookshank. 
Frank W. Johnson.... 

Frank M. Swasey. 

Thomas Fraser. 

Aaron B. Hunt. 

John D. Maxey. 

Thomas S. Roseberry. 
Geo. W. Stewart. 

Peter Campbell. 

James H. Baxter. 

Charles D. Ford. 

Fredrick C. Perkins... 

Melvin A. Deering. 

John F. Squire.. 

Lon E. Foote. 

Wat T. Beall. 

Willia mA. Merrill. 

James A. Layton. 

John R. Gordon. 

David C. Fleming. 

Walter G. Robinson... 

Lorenzo R. Thomas... 

James King. 

David H. Budlong— 

Neal J. Sharp. 

John B. West. 

Thornton S. Howard.. 

Kleber E. Wilcockson. 

Thomas A. Scates. 

George W. Fisher. 

Isaac T. Purcell. 

J. Ernest Breda. 

Walter L. Cohen. 

Thomas Scadden. 

Sylvester Peterson.... 
William E. Culkin.... 

Cyrus P. Shepard. 

Myron D. Taylor. 

James Hill. 

William H. Martin — 

George Steel. 

Martin V. Gideon.. 

Albert L. Love 


RECEIVER. 
Herschel V. Cashin. 
John C. Leftwich. 

Wm. R. Edwards. 
Albert J. Apperson. 
Albert E. Rose. 

John C. Martin. 

John H. Bauman. 

Edward A. Shicker. 
John G. Chitwood. 
Felix S. Baker. 

John E. Bush. 

James F. Thompson. 
Frank E. Densmore. 
Arthur W. Kinney. 
Henry Malloch. 

Lloyd L. Carter. 
William A. Newcum 
Sargent S. Mortin. 
George A. McKenzie. 
Alfred H. Taylor. 
Othello Scribner. 

George W. Warner. 
Peter F. Barclay. 
Benjamin K Kimberly 
Daniel L. Sheets. 

Miss Martha C. Brown 
James W. Ross. 

John P. Dickinson. 
Fred Butler. 

C. Frost Liggett. 

John E. Pelton. 

John J. Lambert. 
Charles B. Timberlake 

Henry S. Chubb. 

George B. Rogers. 
Edward E. Garrett. 
Charles D. Warner. 
Wm. A. Hodgman. 
Charles H. Garby. 

Stephen J. Loughran. 

Cyrus Anderson. 

Lewis J. Pettijohn. 
Rudolph B. Welch. 
Frank W. King 

Charles J. Greene. 
Charles P. Johnston. 

John Jones. 

August F. George. 

Jay M. Smith. 
Christopher F. Case. 
Alva Eastman. 

George E. Matthews. 

Herman Schmidt. 

C. Sanford Russell. 
George A. Ramsey. 

Andrew J. Edsall. 


Helena. 

Kalispell. 

Lewistown. 

Miles City.. 

Missoula. 

Nebraska— 

Alliance. 

Broken Bow. 

Lincoln. 

McCook. 

North Platte. 

O’Neill. 

Sidney. 

Valentine. 

Nevada— 

Carson City. 

New Mexico— 

Clayton. 

Las Cruces. 

Roswell. 

Santa Fe. 

North Dakota— 

Bismarck. 

Devil’s Lake. 

Fargo. 

Grand Forxs. 

Minot. 

Oklahoma— 

Alva.. 

♦El Reno. 

Enid. 

Guthrie. 

Kingfisher. 

♦Lawton. 

Mangum. 

Oklahoma. 

Perry. 

Woodward. 

Oregon— 

Burns. 

La Grande. 

Lakeview. 

Oregon City. 

Roseburg. 

The Dalles. 

South Dakota— 

Aberdeen. 

Chamberlain. 

Huron. 

Mitchell. 

Pierre. 

Rapid City. 

Watertown. 

Utah- 

Salt Lake City... 

Washington- 
North Yakima.... 

Olympia. 

Seattle. 

Spokane. 

Vancouver. 

Walla Walla. 

Waterville. 

Wisconsin— 

Ashland. 

Eau Claire. 

Wausau. 

Wyoming— 

Buffalo. 

Cheyenne. 

Evanston. 

Douglas. 

Lander. 

Sundance. 


George D. Greene. 

Frank H. Nash_ 

Edward Brassey... 

Samuel Gordon. 

Elmer E. Hershey. 


Fred M. Dorrington... 

James Whitehead. 

Joseph W. Johnson— 
Francis M. Rathbun.. 

George E. French. 

Stephen J. Weekes.... 

Robley D. Harris. 

James C. Pettijohn — 

Oliver H. Gallup. 


Edward W. Fox. 
Emil Solignac.... 
Howard Leland.. 
Manuel R. Otero. 


Alex. C. McGillivray.. 

Ole Serumgard. 

Charles N. Valentine. 

Ernest H. Kent. 

Thomas E. Olsgard... 

Robert A. Cameron... 


James B. Cullison_ 

John Boles. 

Emory D. Brownlee.. 
Henry D. McNight. 

John A. Trotter. 

Seymour S. Price. 

Alfred H. Boles.. 

Frank D. Healy. 


George W. Hayes.... 
Edward W. Bartlett. 
Eldon M. Brattain... 
Charles B. Moores... 

Joseph T. Bridges_ 

Jay P. Lucas. 


John S. Vetter. 

■William V. Lucas. 

Charles A. Blake. 

George E. Foster. 

Albert Wheelon. 

George P. Bennett_ 

Lee Stover.. 


Frank D. Hobbs. 


Walter J. Reed. 

Frank G. Deckebach. 
Edward P. Tremper.. 

William H. Ludden_ 

William R. Dunbar... 

John M. Hill. 

Matthew B. Malloy_ 


August Doenitz. 

Alfred Cypreansen.... 
John IV. Miller. 


Prince A. Gatchell_ 

William E. Chaplin... 

Charles Kingston. 

Albert D. Chamberlain. 

William T. Adams_ 

Alpha E. Hoyt. 


John Horsky. 

William C. Whipps. 
Louis W. Eldridge. 
James M. Rhoades. 
William O. Ranft. 

William R. Akers. 
Frank H. Young. 
Thomas P. Kennard. 
Joel A. Piper. 

Frank Bacon. 

D. Clem Heaver. 

James L.McIntosh, Jr 
Albert L. Towle. 

David H. Hall. 

Albert W. Thompson. 
Henry D. Bowman. 
David L. Geyer. 
Edward F. Hobart. 

John Satterlund. 
Henry E. Baird. 
DeWitt C. Tufts. 
Christian L. Llndstrom 
Abner . Hanscom. 

William J. French. 


David W. Eastman. 
Fredrick E. McKinley. 
Jacob V. Admire. 

.Tames D. Maguire. 

John A. Oliphant. 
Anton H. Classen. 

Joel R. Scott. 

John W. Miller. 

Charles Newell. 
Samuel O. Swackhamer 
Harry Bailey. 

William Galloway. 
James H. Booth. 

Otis Patterson. 

Frank A. Brown. 
Charles L. Brockway. 
John Westdahl. 
Thomas C. Burns. 
Henry E. Cutting. 
William S. Warner. 
George W. Case. 

George A. Smith. 

Miles Cannon. 

John O’B. Scobey. 
Columbus T. Tyler. 
Samuel A. Wells. 

Lynn B. Clough. 
Thomas Mosgrove. 
Lucien E. Ivellog. 

Hu portal G. Sampson 
Alexander Meggett. 

Henry G. McCrossen. 

Ephraim H. Smock. 
Edward A. Slack. 
Frank M. Foote. 
Merris C. Barrow. 

Mrs. Minnie Williams. 
Samuel A. Young. 


* Officers that have just been established to accomodate the business 
from the^Kiowa and Comanche reservations. 


/71«iU Aff a* Hew Opportunities for Vou and 

I6IIIP IrilvU your Triends. « « « « « 

For a limited time “PUBLIC LAND” will be sent, to five 
different addresses when sent in by one person for five dollars. 

Each issue of “PUBLIC LAND” will contain more of value 
to the subscriber interested in public land matters than the full 
price of the year’s subscription. Some will receive a hundred 
times more. Get your friends to subscribe now. Send all re¬ 
mittances whenever possible by Post Office or Express Money 
Order, made payable to “PUBLIC LAND.” 

Office 124-25 Auditorium Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


Northwestern Business College, 

1 *- 809 Second Avenue, SPOKANE, WASH.- 

The leading: Business Training- School of the 
Inland Empire. Winter term opens Monday, 
January 6, 1902. Send for catalogue. 

=E. H. THOMPSON, Principal* 







































































































































































































































ADVERTISEMENTS. 


FRED’K J. HOAGLAND, 


Attorney at Law, 


ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 

J. W. MARSHALL, 
Attorney at Law. 

Practice In all the Court*, 


m Auditorium Blk_, SPOKANE, WASH 

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Puget Sound Business College 

for a practical, up-to-date business course. 
Bookkeeping:, penmanship, stenography 
and typewriting. Send ten cents for sam¬ 
ple dozen cards and how you can earn 
some money during spare time. Address 
D. M. KNAUF, Principal, 90S Yakima are., 
Tacoma, Wash. 

0. W. KENNEDY, 

Livery Stables, 

Gentle Driving Horses. Good Drivers to 
show you the land yon want to see. 
Everything first class. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 

DOUGLAS HOTEL, 

William Newlove, Prop., 

AMERICAN PLAN. 

n.00 and $1.60 Per Day. 

Prompt, Neat, Clean Service. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 

WILSON CREEK LIVERY STABLE 
R. J. Armstrong, Prop. 

GOOD HORSES, GOOD RIGS, GOOD 
DRIVERS, FIRST CLASS 
SERVICE. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 

CLAIR HUNT, 

Civil JB/ngineor 
U. S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor. 

B0SSBURG, - - WASHINGTON. 

INLAND PRINTING COMPANY, 

610-612 Sprague Ave. 

Print Anything. Try us with your 
next order. 

It will save you money. 

M. L. SCHERMERH0RN, 
United States Commissioner 

There's lots of good Vacant Agricultural Land 
tributary to 

LIND, . - - WASHINGTON 


WENTWORTH CLOTHING GO. 

Reliable Mens* and 
Boys’ Outfitters. 

709-11 Riverside Ave. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 

J. W. MeCUNE, 

Farm and City Property For Sale 
or Exchange. 

MONEY TO LOAN. 

7-8 Sherwood Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 

V 

JOHN McDOWELL, 

united States Commissioner and 
Justice of the Peace. 


Gold Butte, Mont. 


S. Swenson, Clyde C. Henion, 

United States Commissioner. Notary Public 

SWENSON & HENION, 

Timber and Agricultural Lands. Homestead 
and timber locations. Agents townsite of New¬ 
port. 

Publishers of NEWPORT MINER, $i.5o!per year. 
NEWPORT, WASHINGTON. 


AUGUST MEYER 

DEALER IN 

PIANOS 

AND 

ORGANS 


919 Riverside Ave. 

SPOKANE, WASH. 


Map 01 mb Mi Miiot 

A fine Blue Print Map of that part of 
Adams County, which is in the 
Spokane Falls, Washington Land 
District, comprising thirty-two town¬ 
ships and showing all the vacnat land 
in each township and corrected up 
to date will be sent by mail on re¬ 
ceipt of price—$2.50. Address 

“PUBLIC LAND” 

124-125 Auditorium Bldg. 

Spokane. Washington. 










































Walton & Goodsell, Land Attorneys 


Leave of absence from your Homestead. Applications to 
amend your Homstead and making of all papers pertaining to 
Public Lands. Contests, protests and other bearings before 
any U. S. Land Office. The Commissioner of the General 
Land Office and the Interior Department. Mining Applica¬ 
tions. Military Bounty Land Warrants. Forest Reserve, 

Soldier’s Additional Homestead, and all other Land Scrips 
bought and sold. We can get your tangles straightened with¬ 
out your coming to the office : : 

Office Rooms 124-25 Auditorium Block:, Phone Main 369 \ 


FREE HOMESTEADS 



I know the location of several first-class pieces of 
Government Land that can be secured under the 
Homestead Law, in 

Douglas County, Washington 

upon which I will locate persons desiring homesteads. 
This land is fine agricultural prairie land and is es¬ 
pecially adapted to wheat raising, being situated in 
what is known as the Big Bend Country of Eastern 
Washington, the banner wheat country of the State. 

W. H. BURNS, 

Wilson Creek, Washington 

Enquire at Bank of Wilson Creek. 


400 HOMESTEAD CLAIMS IN ADAMS 
COUNTY, STATE OF WASHINGTON. 

We have a Blue Print Map showing the exact 
location of all the vacant land in that part of Adams 
county, state of Washington, that is within the Spo¬ 
kane Falls district, which is corrected up to date, 
that we will give to every club raiser who sends us 
in ten paid yearly subscribers at one dollar each. The 
regular price of the map is $2.50. 





















jOrtGReSS. 
Copy Reo»ved 

k n 1902 

OPYRtCHT ENTRY 


kS S XXC. NO. 



Z%f £0/7£,/7M££/5 7££//Off Of/Wf/M770ft 




§ BE VOTED TO THOSE ? 


PVBLISHED 

^ WEEKLY. 


ITITERESTED l»W 
THE PVBLIC UfiMOS 


$1.50 PER YEAR 
• M ADVAHCE. 


Single 


Spokane, Wash., J 


CONTENTS. 

Editorial— 

New Opportunities— 

Take It Off.. i 

Woodmen Spare That Tree.... i 

The Devils Lake, Pottawotomie 
and Rosebud Indian Reserva¬ 


tion . 4 

Current Topics— 

Land Laws and Decisions— 

Congressional Suggestions Con- 
cerning Public Land. 2 

Act of May 26, 1890.. 5 

Answers to Subscribers. 5 


Miscellany— 

! Minerals and Timber— 

A Popular Bill.. 6 

The Silver-Lead Mine Owners.. 3 

Thirty-five Mining Claims. 3 

; The Government..3 

State Land Board of Washington 3 
The Southern States . 3 

Free Homesteads for North Half 

of Colville Reservation. 6 

Personals. 7 

Land Offices and Officers of the 
United States (corrected).... 8 










































ADVERTISEMENTS 


C. H. HOLDEN, 


Attorney at Law. 


Choice timber lands in large or small 
tracts. Timber land cruised end estimates 
given. Government lands located. FTuit 
lands. Ranch land. Grazing land (or sale. 
Climate unsurpassed; no cold, no heat, 
lands, ranch land, grazing land (or sale, 
no cyclones. Correspondence solicited. 


FLORENCE, OREGON. 


EOLILH J. REEVES, 


United States Commissioner, 


WILBUR, WASHINGTON. 


SEDHEY MOOR HEATH, 
United States Commissioner 

In and for District ®f Washington. 


2EQQUTAM, WASHINGTON. 


UNITED STATES COMMISSIONERS 


ALABAMA 

ELLIOTT G. RICKARBY, 

United States Commissioner 

86 St. Michaels St., MOBILE 


COLORADO 

H. A. WILDHACK, 

United States Commissioner 

MEEKER 

CALIFORNIA. 

J. WILL SMITH, 

Attorney and U. S. Commissioner 

SANTA BARBARA 

IDAHO 

JAMES DeHAVEN, 

United States Commissioner 

ORANGEVILLE 

T. D. HASTIE, 

United States Commissioner 

OROFINO 

ILLINOIS. 

SIMEON. W. KING, 

United States Commissioner 

Room 941, Monadnock Block, CHICAGO 


HOMES FOR THE HOMESEEEER® 

LANDS FOR THE LANDLESS. 

We have a large list of the choicest 
(arming lands' in the Big Bend and 
throughout the Inland Empire. Improved 
farms $15 to $20 per acre. This is the sec¬ 
tion that produces 30,000,000 bushels of 
wheat per annum. Fine fruit; no failures; 
ideal climate. Money placed for non-reei- 
dents on first mortgages on first class 
land. Trantum & Schoonover, Odessa,Wn. 


JNO. JAS. GRAVES, 


Justice of the Peace, Hotary Public, 
Conveyancer, Real Estate, 


MEYERS FALLS, WASHINGTON. 


J. B. ZIEGLER, 

Notary Public, Real Estate and Fire 
Insurance Agent. 


IMPROVED FARM LANDS, RAW 
LANDS AND TOWN PROPER¬ 
TIES FOR SALE. 


Prices and Terms will be Furnished 
Promptly. 


Office on First Avenue. 


ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 





Quickly secured. OCX FES DUE WHEN PATENT 
OBTAINED. Send model, sketch or photo, with 
description for free report as to patentability. 48-PAGE 
HAND-BOOK FREE. Contains references and full 
information. WHITE FOR COPY OF OUR SPECIAL 
OFFER. It is the most liberal proposition ever made by 
a patent attorney, and EVERY INVENTOR SHOULD 
READ ST before applying for patent. Address: 

H.B.WILLS0NAC0. 

PATENT LAWYERS, 

L« Droit Bldg., WASHINGTON, D. C. 

~niTTT .. ".~.I IIIIIB 


Free Homesteads. 


There are over 100 good quarter sections with 
in short distance of the Great Northern Railroad 
that are subject to homostead entry, the same 
kind of land that produced 40 bushels of wheat 
to the acre this year. We have an accurate 
knowledge of these vacant tracts and will locate 
desirable parties on them at very reasonable 
rates. Call on 


H. E. STONE, 

With O. W. Stone Undertaking Co. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON 


A. R. SWAHS0H, 
United States Commissioner, 


Notary Public, Loans 
And Collections—Conveyancer 


WILSON CREEK, 


WASHINGTON. 


CUMMING BROS. & POWELL, 
Choice Timber and Homestead Loca¬ 
tions on Government Land. 

TIMBER CRUISED AND ESTIMATES GIVEN 

Fruit, grazing and ranch lands and pine and 
cedar timber for sale. 


80114 Riverside Ave. 


SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


LAND SCRIP 


-FOR 


Surveyed or Unsurveyed 

Government Land, lowest prices, 
and quick delivery. We also 
have some choice saw mill loca¬ 
tions, and timber lands in white 
pine belt of Northern Idaho. 

New Northwestern limber Co., 

82-63 Bltck. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


MONTANA 

JOHN McDOWELL, 

United States Commissoner 

GOLD BUTTE 


NEW MEXICO. 

W. S. GEORGE, 

U. S. Court Commissioner, Mining 
Engineer, Mines, Farm Lands, etc. 

COONEY, SOCARRO COUNTY 


WASHINGTON 

A. R. SWANSON, 

United States Commissoner 

WILSON CREEK 

SIDNEY MOOR HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

HOQUIAM 


ROLLIN J. REEVES, 
United States Commissioner 


WILBUR 


J. W. MARSHALL, 

Attorney and United States Commissoner 
Auditorium, SPOKANE 


M. L. SCHERMERHORN, 
United States Commissioner 


LIND 


H. S. SWENSON, 
United States Commissioner 


NEWPORT 


WYOMING. 

ORIN hTwOODS, 
United States Commissioner 


BASIN 




















































PUBLIC LAND, 


i 


Mf/ww/mrA /j M£//op£ of r//£/y/iim 



Offices 124-125 Auditorium Bldg., Spokane, Wash. 


ADVERTISING RATES ON APPLICATION, 


Entered at Spokane, Wash., as Second Class Mail Matter. 


Copyrighted 1901 by Walton & Goodsell. 


Vol. 1. Spokane, WAsn , Jan. 21,1902. No. 23. 


TAKE IT OFF. 


Congressman Jones’ free homestead bill for the 
North Half of the Colville Indian Reservation in the 
State of Washington should receive the earnest sup¬ 
port of every citizen in Eastern Washington. The 
passage of this bill will mean more for the Inland 
Empire than an expensive public building- would at 
this time. It will encourage the settlement and ap¬ 
propriation of the thousands of acres of vacant lands 
that are lying fallow, waiting for the plow of the 
farmer and the pick of the miner. It would result 
in distributing homes all over a territory of nearly 
3,000 miles, which ,while they would not cost a hun¬ 
dred or two thousand of dollars or be the palace of a 
king, would nevertheless shelter a monarch who does 
more f.or sustaining the human race, i. e., an Ameri¬ 
can citizen who produces his own living. Heie is a 
chance for politicians to apply their argument to a 
question of statesmanship; - shall we take the duty off 
of this raw material or prevent production by a pro¬ 
hibitive tariff. Mr. Jones says take it off, the settlers 
on the reserve say take it off; prospective settlers 
say take it off; the business, men say take it off; and 
off.it should come. 

. / -- 

.. “WOODMAN SPARE THAT TREE.” 


From all parts of the country comes the demand 
for an extension of the national forestry system. 
From the annual issue of the . nation s paper of 
which Theodore Roosevelt is the editor-in-chief 
down to the little patent outside and patent medicine 


inside weekly do we see in the lines and between 
the lines this demand: That Congress will take 
some decisive action in this matter there seems to 
be little doubt at the present time. Already there 
are several bills on the calendar whose purpose is to 
govern or in some of the several ways modify the 
laws relating to the disposal of the timber land and 
the extension of . the forest reserve. 

The State Board of Land Commissioners of the 
State of Washington have adopted a policy which 
it seems' might be beneficial if extended to the Gov¬ 
ernment timber land and that is to permit the sale 
of only a very limited amount of timber land each 
year, just sufficient to keep the mills running. The 
waste of timber that is now so frequently met with 
would be regarded as a felony twenty years hence, 
when the.necessity for the most rigid economy in 
handling the timber will 'be clearly apparent. Con¬ 
gress should therefore inaugurate the necessity for 
proper economy before it is too late and that should 
be done by placing what would now be considered 
practically prohibitive sale value upon the timber 
land. In this way only the choicest tracts would 
be sought for purchase, leaving the less valuable for 
growth and future necessities. The woodman in this 
case must be not one Congressman, for a few of the 
present members of Congress are known to be the 
heaviest timber operators in the United States, but 
the national Congress. 

The plan of segregating large areas of land in 
certain localities for timber reserves has many ob¬ 
jections and is peculiarly detrimental to the business 
interests of the locality affected by the order. It 
invariably happens that there are many settlements 
and some times villages and towns included in these 
reserves. The order creating the reserve is a ban up¬ 
on the advancement of the entire community, _ in 
every particular. It not only prevents the extension 
of church, school and business facilities, but it al¬ 
lows the improvements to rot out, which the pioneer 
had built with much sacrifice to himself in the rea¬ 
sonable expectation that the advance of civilization, 
of which he was the vanguard; would overtake him, 
bringing with it some of the comforts necessary to 
the happiness of himself and his family. The man 
who establishes himself in a forest, miles away from 
any other settler and hews out not only his own 
house logs, but miles, of passable roads, has a right 
to demand that his welfare be considered when it 
comes to denying him the privileges which he might 
reasonbly expect would follow as. a result.of his own 
unremitting labor and self sacrifice. 

































2 


PUBLIC LAND. 


CURRENT TOPICS. 


CONGRESSIONAL SUGGESTIONS CON¬ 
CERNING THE PUBLIC LANDS. 

The following bills have been recently introduced 
and referred to the Committee of Public Lands, In¬ 
dian Affairs and Mines and Mining: 

“By Mr. Stephens of Texas: A joint resolution 
(H. J. Res. 109) to prevent the lease of certain In¬ 
dian lands in Oklahoma Territory for a long period 
than one year.” 

“A bill (H. R. 7954) providing for leasing the 
arid public lands of the United States. 

“A bill (H. R. 8190) to supplement existing laws 
relating to the possession of lands in the Indian Ter¬ 
ritory to make temporary allotments among the In¬ 
dians and for other purposes. 

“By Mr. Breazeale: A bill (H. R. 7962), ceding 
to the State of Louisiana for use and benefit of the 
public schools, certain land situated in the parishes 
of Caddo, Bossier, Webster, De Sota, Sabine, Red 
River and Grant. 

“By Mr. Sutherland: A bill (H. R. 7961) to au¬ 
thorize the State of Utah to select indemnity lands 
for the purpose of common schools in subdivisions of 
40 acres and providing for the location thereof. Also 
a memorial from the governor and legislature of 
Utah for the opening of the Uintah Indian Reserva¬ 
tion to settlement. 


MR. DIETRICH introduced a bill (S. 2442) con¬ 
firming title to the State of Nebraska for certain 
selected indemnity school lands. 


BY MR. FLYNN: A bill (H. R. 7933) provid¬ 
ing for the commutation for townsite purposes of 
homestead entries in certain portions of Oklahoma. 

A bill (H. R. 7959) providing for free homesteads 
on the public lands in Oklahoma Territory for actual 
and bona fide settlers and reserving the public lands 
for the purpose. 


BY MR. SMITH of Arizona: A bill (H. R. 
7958) authorizing the adjustment of the rights of 
settlers on certain executive order Indian Reserva¬ 
tions in the Territory of Arizona. 


BY MR. KLEBERG: A bill (H. R. 8193) to 
provide for the selection by the United States of 
America and the United States of Mexico of an in¬ 
ternational board of engineers for the purpose of 


making surveys, plats, plans and estimate of the cost 
of an international system of irrigation in the valley 
of the Rio Grande, and making an appropriation of 
the sum of $50,000 for paying the expenses of such 
board of engineers. 


MR. HANSBROUGH introduced a bill (S. 
2418) to ratify an agreement with the Indians of the 
Devil’s Lake Reservation in North Dakota and mak¬ 
ing appropriation to carry the same into effect. 

He also introduced a bill (S. 2419) to provide 
for exchange of public lands of the United States 
with bona fide residents who are actual settlers, or 
grantees of lands under grants of Congress. 


USE OF FOREST RESERVE TIMBER. 
THE PRESIDENT pro tempore laid before the 
Seriate a communication from the Secretary of the 
Interior, transmitting a draft of a proposed bill to 
regulate the use of forest reserve timber. 


GRANDE RONDE INDIAN RESERVATION. 

THE PRESIDENT pro tempore laid before the 
Senate a communication from the Secretary of the 
Interior, transmitting a letter from the Commis¬ 
sioner of Indian Affairs, and an accompanying 
agreement entered into by the United States Indian 
Inspector, James McLaughlin, with the Indians of 
the Grande Ronde Reservation in Oregon, for ces¬ 
sion of the surplus lands of their reservation, etc. 


LEASING OF INDIAN LANDS. 

MR. KEARNS submitted the following resolu¬ 
tion, which was considered, by unanimous consent, 
and agreed to: 

“Resolved, That the Secretary of the Interior be, 
and he is hereby, directed to inform the Senate if any 
movement is being made looking to the leasing of 
Indian lands in the Uintah Reservation in the State 
of Utah, and to furnish the Senate with all papers 
and documents relating to the same.” 


MR. STEWART: I offer a resolution in addi¬ 
tion to. the one just submitted by the Senator from 
Utah, in order to get the whole subject before the 
Senate. I ask for its present consideration. 

The resolution was read, considered by unanimous 
consent and agreed to, as follows: 

“Whereas it is reported that leases for large quan¬ 
tities of Indian reservations for mining, grazing and 
other purposes are in contemplation; Therefore, 
“Resolved, That the Secretary of the Interior be 
















PUBLIC LAND. 


directed to inform the Senate if such leases are in 
contemplation and the reasons therefor.” 

Also, petition of J. E. George and others for the 
passage of the Bowersock bill, providing for the 
leasing of public lands. 


BY MR. LACEY: A bill (H. R. 8322) provid¬ 
ing a means of acquiring title to two groves of 
sequoia gigantea, in the State of California, with a 
view to making national parks thereof. 

Also a bill (H. R. 8323) to set apart certain lands 
in the Territory of New Mexico as a public park, to 
be known as “The Cliff Dwellers’ National Park,” 
and for the purpose of preserving the prehistoric 
caves and ruins and other works and relics therein. 

Also, a bill (H. R. 8325) to finally adjust the 
swamp-land grants, and for other purposes. 

Also, a bill (H. R. 8326) to set apart certain lands 
in the Territory of Arizona as a public park, to be 
known as “The Petrified Forest National Park.” 
Also, a bill (H. R. 8327) to amend an act entitled 
“An Act for the protection of the lives of miners in 
the Territories.” 


BY MR. LACEY: A bill (H. R. 7663) to amend 
the homestead laws of the District of Alaska. 

Also, a bill (H. R. 7664) providing for the com¬ 
pulsory attendance of witnesses before registers and 
receivers of the land office. 

A|so. a bill (H. R. 8329) to authorize the Secre¬ 
tary of the Interior to make a charge for grazing 
within forest reserves. 


BY MR. BURNETT: A bill (H. R. 8330)^0 
authorize the Secretary of the Interior to reclassify 
the public lands of Alabama. 


BY MR. EDWARDS: A bill (H. R. 8334) 
granting to the State of Montana 5°> 000 acres of 
land to aid in the establishment and maintenance 
of an asylum for the blind. 


BY MR. MONDELL: A bill (H. R. 7668) to 
provide for the entry and disposition of public land.-, 
on the abandoned Fort Laramie Military Reserva¬ 
tion in Wyoming. 


BY MR. CURTIS : A bill (H. R. 7 66 9 ) respect¬ 
ing the sale and taxation of inherited Indian allot¬ 
ments, and for other purposes. 


3 


MINERALS AND TIMBER. 


CALIFORNIA IS PRODUCING an average of 
100,000 barrels of crude oil per day. 


REPUBLIC, WASH., has placer ground at the 
end of one of its main streets that pays 75 cents per 
yard. 


SUPERINTENDENT of the Assay Office at 
Vancouver reports the finding of many specimens 
of platinum in the gold shipments received from 
Alaska. 


THE SILVER-LEAD mine owners of the United 
States have planned to effect an organization of all 
the principal owners for the purpose of mutual co¬ 
operation. 


THIRTY-FIVE copper-gold-silver mining 
claims on Fortune Creek near Roslyn are reported 
to have been sold to one syndicate. The deal in¬ 
cludes the eight claims in the King Solomon group, 
which alone brought $50,000 cash. 


THE GOVERNMENT has brought suit against 
several timbermen of Ferry County, Washington, 
for cutting timber on Government lands. The 
amount involved is approximately $25,000. Several 
parties have also been arrested on the same charge 
and the complications have grown to be very serious. 


THE STATE BOARD OF LAND COMMIS¬ 
SIONERS have withdrawn all the large tracts of 
State timber from the market and are reported to' be 
committed to the policy of selling only sufficient State 
timber to keep the mills going. The board believes 
the State should profit by the rapid increase in value 
of the lands instead of permitting individuals to spec¬ 
ulate in them and obtain all the profit. 


THE SOUTHERN STATES are coming rapid¬ 
ly to the front as coal producers. West Virginia 
claims an estimated coal area of 16,000 square miles, 
and last year produced about 20,000,000 tons. Ala¬ 
bama claims second place with a production about 
half that of West Virginia. Maryland and Arkan¬ 
sas are each credited with a production of nearly 
5,000,000 tons. Other Southern States, while not 
producing so great an amount, are, nevertheless, very 
important factors in the attraction of manufacturers 
to the South, by reason of their cheap fuel. 

























PUBLIC LAND. 


4 


NEW OPPORTUNITIES. 


NEW TOWNSHIPS IN OREGON. 

The following townships were thrown open to ap¬ 
plication and filing in the Lakeview (Ore.) Land 
Office yesterday: 

Tp. 32 S. R. 27 E.; Tp. 33 S. Rs. 20, 21, 23 and 
27 E.; Tp. 34 S. Rs. 22 and 27 E.; Tp. 35 S. R. 
27 E. 


THE DEVILS LAKE INDIAN RESERVA¬ 
TION in North Dakota, is now in processed being 
opened. The Commissioner of Indian affairs made 
his report thereon and this has been transmitted to 
the U. S. Senate with the agreement entered into 
with the Indians by United States Indian Inspector 
James McLaughlin. This agreement was made No¬ 
vember 2, 1901, and provides for the cession to the 
United States of all their surplus lands excepting 
6,160 acres required for allotments to sixty-one In¬ 
dians who have been found to be entitled thereto. 
This Reservation lies on the south side of Devils 
I.ake and is tributary to either the Northern Pacific 
of the Great Northern Railroads. 


POTTAWATOMIE INDIAN RESERVA¬ 
TION is on the list for appropriation by the white 
man. This reservation is fourteen miles south of 
Topeka and lies wholly within Jackson County, Kan¬ 
sas, and is about ten by twelve miles square. Con¬ 
gressman Curtis has introduced a bill providing for 
the sale of most of these lands to settlers. The re¬ 
serve contains about 77,000 acres. The bill is also 
designed to result in the opening of the Kickapoos 
Reservation, containing 19,000 acres, and the Iowa 
Reservation, containing 11,600 acres, 'both of which 
are in Brown County,, and the Chippewas-Christinas 
Reservation in Franklin County, containing 4,395 
acres. The plan is to sell the land at current market 
price and to hold the money in trust for the benefit 
of the allotees. 


“KEEP YOUR EYE ON PASCO” is soon to 
have a far different meaning than the sense in which 
it has heretofore been used by the commercial men 
for many years past. 

The land in that vicinity is very light and right 
at Pasco is nearly all sand, which drifts with the 
slightest wind. This constant shifting of the loose 
sands suggested the necessity of keeping one’s eye 
on the land or it would get away. The Northern 
Pacific Railroad Company, which owns every alter¬ 


nate section of the land through there, is going to 
open and enlarge the old Kennewick ditch and place 
a large area of this land under irrigation. The 
Northern Pacific is not only one of the strongest 
transportation companies in the world, but is perhaps 
the largest land owner in the United States. 

OVER 100,000 ACRES of sage-brush land in 
Idarney County, Oregon, have recntly been located 
under the Carey Desert Land Act. The Harney 
Valley Improvement Company has about 60,000 
acres southeast of Harney City. This land will be 
irrigated by waters taken from the Silvies River. 
Another Company proposes to> irrigate a large tract 
in the same vicinity by diverting and storing the wa¬ 
ters from the mountain streams and also by boring 
artesian wells. The Wrights Point Improvement 
Company has located about four thousand acres near 
Burns which is also- the Land Office for that section 
of country. There is a body of fine white pine in 
the northeastern part of the County and in the South¬ 
eastern part of Grant County. This timber is on the 
head waters of the Silvies, John Day and Malheur 
Rivers and with the expenditure of a reasonable sum 
for removing obstructions might be driven down 
either of these streams. 

THE ROSEBUD INDIAN RESERVATION 
or at least that part of it which lies in Gregory Coun¬ 
ty, South Dakota, will probably be thrown open to 
homestead settlement some time in the no distant 
future. 

The matter has been agitated for a long time and 
as the lands join Boyd County, Nebraska, where 
1:early every quarter section has a settler and where 
the best corn in the State was raised last season. 
The Rosebud Reservation is a large one, extending 
as it does from the Missouri River on the east to 
Eagles Creek, a distance of over one hundred miles, 
and from the Nebraska state line on the south to the 
Niobara River on the north, or an approximate disr 
lance of fifty miles. However, as stated above only 
that part which is in Gregory County will be included 
in the proposed opening. The land on this part of 
the Reserve is the finest kind of agricultural land. 
On the strength of this movement the Fremont, Elk- 
horn and Missouri River Valley Railroad are plan- - 
iiing for the extension of a branch line from Verdi¬ 
gris, in Knox County, to pass through this new sec¬ 
tion of country. The new line will cross the Nio¬ 
bara River at the mouth of Verdigris Creek and will 
then pass up the Ponca River and cross Gregory 
County from Southeast to Northwest. ' 















PUBLIC LAND. 


LAND LAWS AND DECISIONS. 


MODIFIES LAWS RESPECTING AFFIDA¬ 
VITS AND FINAL PROOFS IN 
LAND ENTRIES. 

AN ACT to Amend Section Twenty-two Hundred 

and Ninety-four of the Revised Statutes of 
the United States, and for Other 
Purposes. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE SENATE AND 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
UNITED STATES, OF AMERICA. IN CON¬ 
GRESS ASSEMBLED, That Section, twenty-two 
hundred and ninety-four of the Revised Statutes be, 
and the same is hereby, amended so that it will read 
as follows: 

Sec. 2294. In any case in which the applicant 
for the benefit of the homestead, preemption, timber- 
culture, or desert-land law is prevented, by reason 
of- distance, bodily infirmity, or other good cause, 
.from'personal attendance at the district land office, 
lie or she may make the affidavit required by law be¬ 
fore any commissioner of the United States-circuit 
court or the clerk of the court of record for the coun¬ 
ty in which the land is situated, and transmit the 
same-with the fee and commissions to the register 
.and receiver. 

That the proof of settlement, residence, occupa¬ 
tion," cultivation, - irrigation,' or reclamation, the affi¬ 
davit of non-alienation, the oath of allegiance, and 
all other affidavits required to be made under the 
homestead, preemption, timber-culture, and desert- 
land laws may be made before any commissioner of 
the United States circuit court or before the judge or 
clerk of any court of record of the county or parish 
in which the lands are situated ; and the proof, affi¬ 
davit, and o ; ath, when .so made and duly subscribed, 
shall have the same force and. effect .as if made be¬ 
fore the register and receiver, when transmitted to. 
them with the fee and commissions allowed and ie- 
quired by law. That if any witness making such 
proof or any ..applicant making any such affidavit 01 
oath shall knowingly, wilfully, or corruptly swear 
falsely to any material matter . contained in said 
proofs, affidavits, or oaths, he shall be deemed guilty 
of perjury and shall be liable to the same pains and 
penalty as if he had sworn falsely before the register. 
That the fees for entries and for final proofs, when 

made before any. other officer than the. register, and 
receiver, shall lie as follows: 

' For each affidavit, twenty-five cents. 

For each deposition of claimant or witness, when 


5 


not prepared by the officer, twenty-five cents. 

For each deposition of claimant or witness pre¬ 
pared by the officer, one dollar. 

Any officer demanding or receiving a greater sum 
for such service shall be guilty of a misdemeanor., 
and, upon conviction, shall be punished for each of¬ 
fense by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars. - 1 
Approved May 26, 1890. (26 Stat, 121.) ’ 


ANSWERS TO SUBSCRIBERS. 

Under this head complete answers will be given 
to subscribers’ questions concerning the public land 
of the United States. Name and address of, each 
subscriber must be given . with letter asking the 
question. 

A. L. T., Orofino, Idaho:, Has a United States 
Commissioner the right to transmit final proofs, 
homestead application and other business pertaining 
to land matters through tile mails without paying 
postage thereon or by the use -of the official en¬ 
velope ? 

Answer: The postal authorities have decided that 
a United States Commissioner has no'right to trans¬ 
mit final proofs', homestead applications- and other 
business pertaining to- land matters through the 
mails without paying postage thereon or by the use 
of the official envelope, it being a private matter,; and 
therefore a violation of the postal laws. 

M. R., Hauser, Idaho: Can a boy 19 years old 
hold unsurveyed railroad land by living upon and 
improving it or does he have to file;a right to it. 

Answer: He could not hold the land- fbr the fol¬ 
lowing reasons, viz: 

First, because a minor cannot acquire any right 
to surveyed or unsurveyed Government land unless 
he be married of the head of a family. (Skaggs et 
al. vs. Murray, 26 L. D. 30.) . 

Second, because NO person can secure any: fights 
by settlement since January 1. 1898', on unsurveyed 
land within the grant of the Northern Pacific Rail¬ 
road Company, if, when it is surveyed, the- land 
settled Upon proves to be rail road land. 

■ C. F. C, Bluecreek, Wash.: “A’’ filed on a home¬ 
stead in 1893; he has not lived on the same or main¬ 
tained his home there since 1894. Will it be neces¬ 
sary to file a contest in order to homestead it now? 

Answer: Two entries cannot be alio wed. for the 
same tract of land at the same time. “A’s” entry be¬ 
ing of record would' prevent the acceptance of your 













6 PUBLIC LAND. 


application, which would be rejected for conflict with 
“A’s” entry. Your appeal from this rejection would 
not have the effect of saving* the land to you under 
your application. A bona fide contest against the 
entry would therefore be the only way of connect¬ 
ing yourself with the land, so as to prevent the pos¬ 
sibility of a third party getting the land. See “An¬ 
swers to Subscribers,” No. 20 PUBLIC LAND. 


J. McD., Gold Butte, Mont.: What charges are 
Court Commissioners allowed to make for taking 
testimony in final proof and contest cases and is there 
any regular per diem which they may charge in 
contests ? 

Answer: For the charge allowed to be made by 
Court Commissioners in final proofs see “Land 
Laws and Decision,” page 5. 

The charges that are allowed to be made by Court 
Commissioners and other officers, other than the 
Register and Receiver, in contest cases before them 
is provided for in Rule 35 of the Rules of Practice, 
which is as follows: 

“6. Officers designated to take testimony under 
this rule will be allowed to charge such fees as are 
properly authorized by the tariff of fees existing in 
the local courts of their respective districts, to be 
taxed in the same or equivalent manner as costs are 
taxed by registers and receivers under Rules 54 to 
58, inclusive.” 


H. E. M., Lind, Wash.: The citizens of this place 
desire to incorporate the town. There are. several 
living in town at present who wish to vote at the 
coming election, who have homesteads near town. 
Can they do so without jeopardizing their home¬ 
stead rights? 

Answer: Article VI, Chapter 247, Section 1 of 
the Constitution of the State of Washington provides 
as follows: 

“All male persons of the age of twenty-one years 
or over, possessing the following qualifications, shall 
be entitled to vote at all elections: They shall be 
citizens of the United States; they Shall have lived 
in the state one year, and in the county ninety days, 
and in the city, town, ward or precinct thirty days 
immediately preceding the election at which they of¬ 
fer to vote; Provided, That Indians not taxed shall 
never be allowed the elective franchise; Provided 
further, That all male persons who at the time of 
the adoption of this Constitution are qualified electors 
of the territory shall be electors.” 

The question at issue, i. e., whether the town shall 


be incorporated or not can only be decided by the 
qualified electors having a bona fide residence within 
the limits prescribed as the boundary of the new 
town, and since those who hold homesteads under 
the settlement laws of the United States are required 
to actually reside upon such homesteads for a period 
of four years and six months dating from the ex¬ 
piration of six months from the filing of their appli¬ 
cations, it would seem that a settler of whom resi¬ 
dence was required on his homestead on the day the 
town election takes place could not participate therein 
without raising the presumption of abandonment as 
to his homestead. In deciding the case of Hart v. 
McHugh, which also involved land in the Spokane 
district, it was held (17 L. D. 176) Syl., “A declara¬ 
tion of residence at a specified place, for the purpose 
of voting there, precludes a subsequent claim of resi¬ 
dence, at the same time, at another place in order to 
secure title to a tract under the homestead law.” And 
on page 177: 

“The record discloses the further fact that on the 
10th of February, 1891, McHugh registered as a 
voter at Spokane, at which time he declared his resi¬ 
dence to be at 406 E. Riverside avenue, in that city, 
some distance away from the homestead tract. 

“There is no provision in the homestead laws 
whereby a man may solemnly declare his residence 
at one place for the purpose of voting and at an¬ 
other place for the purpose of acquiring title to land. 
McHugh is bound by his solemn declaration, fixing 
his residence at Spokane, and is estopped from set¬ 
ting up a residence elsewhere at that time.” 


MISCELLANY. 


A POPULAR BILL. 

The following House Resolution No. 159 has been 
favorably reported back to the House by the Com¬ 
mittee on Public Lands, and bids fair to become a law 
at an early date: 

57th Congress. 1st Session. 

H. R. 159. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 
December 2, 1901. 

Mr. Jones, of Washington, Introduced the Following 
Bill, Which Was Referred to the Committee 
on the Public Lands and Ordered to 
Be Printed. 

A BILL 

PROVIDING FOR FREE HOMESTEADS ON 
THE PUBLIC LANDS FOR ACTUAL AND 
BONA FIDE SETTLERS IN THE NORTH 















PUBLIC LAND. 


7 


ONE-HALF OF THE COLVILLE INDIAN 
RESERVATION, STATE OF WASHING¬ 
TON, AND RESERVING THE PUBLIC 
LANDS FOR THAT PURPOSE. 

1 BE IT ENACTED BY THE SENATE 
AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTA- 

2 TIVES OF THE UNITED STATES OF 

AMERICA IN CONGRESS ASSEM¬ 
BLED, 

3 That all settlers under the homestead laws of 

the United 

4 States upon the agricultural public lands in the 

north one-half 

5 of the Colville Indian Reservation, in the States 

of Washington 

6 opened to settlement by executive order on the 

tenth day of 

7 October, nineteen hundred, who have resided or 

shall here- 

8 after reside upon the tract entered in good faith 

for the period 

9 required by existing law, shall be entitled to a 

patent for the 

10 land so entered upon the payment to the local 

land officers of 

11 the usua land customary fees, and no other or 

further charge 

12 of any kind whatsoever shall be required from 

such settler to 

13 entitle him to a patent for the land covered by 

his entry: 

2 . 

1 PROVIDED, That the right to commute any 
such entry and pay 

2 for said lands in the option of any such settler 

and in the time 

3 and at the prices now fixed by existing laws 

shall remain in 

4 full force and effect; PROVIDED, HOW¬ 

EVER, That all sums of 

5 money so released which if not released would 

belong to any 

6 Indian tribe shall be paid to such Indian tribe 

by the United 

7 States, and that in the event that the proceeds 

of the annual 

8 sales of the public lands shall not be sufficient 

to meet the 

9 payments heretofore provided for agricultural 

colleges and 

10 experimental stations by an Act of Congress 
approved August 


11 thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety, for the 

more complete 

12 endowment and support of the colleges for the 

benefit of agri- 

13 culture and mechanic arts established under 

the provisions of 

14 an Act of Congress approved July second, eigh¬ 

teen hundred 

15 and isxty-two, such deficiency shall be paid by 

the United 

16 States; AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That 

no lands shall be herein 

17 included on which the United States Govern¬ 

ment had made 

18 valuable improvements, or lands that have been 

sold at public 

19 auction by said Government. 

20. Sec. 2. That all Acts or parts of Acts incon¬ 
sistent with 

21 the privisions of this Act are hereby repealed. 


PERSONALS. 

President Roosevelt has sent in the following 
nominations affecting the United States Land Of¬ 
fices : 

Frederick W. Collins to be Register at Jackson, 
Miss. 

George W. Biber to be Receiver of the office at 
Oregon City, Ore. 

George P. Bennett of Rapid City, S'. D., to be 
Register of the office at that place. 

Robert C. Sanborn of Lisbon, N. D., to be regis¬ 
ter of the Land Office at Minot, N. D. 


Hon. Jay P. Lucas, Register of The Dalles (Ore.) 
Land Office was married, we are informed, on New 
Year’s Day to Mrs. Olivia Morgan. PUBLIC 
LAND extends congratulations. 


Hon. Geo. W. Hayes, Register of the Burns Land 
Office is now in Washington, D. C., on official busi¬ 
ness. 


J. WILLIAM AX FORD, the pioneer of South 
Bend, Wash., died recently at the age of 80 years. 
Mr. Axford made preemption entry of the land 
which is now in the center of the city. 


MISSOURI HAS settled the west and has 280,- 
coo acres vacant at home. 













OffE COPY HECti sUI 


i&N 27 


1902 


8 


PUBLIC LAND. 


Land Offices and Officers of the United States. 

E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior Department, Washington, D C- 
Binger Hermann, Commissioner General Land Office, Washington, D. C 


Alabama— | REGISTER. 

Huntsville. 'John A. Steele 


Montgomery 
Alaska— 

Rampart.. 

Sitka. 

St. Michael. 

Arizona— 

Prescott.. 

Tucson. 

Arkansas— 

Camden... 

Dardanelle. 

Harrison. 

Little Rock. 

California— 

Eureka. 

Independence. 

Los Angeles. 

Marysville. 

Redding.. 

Sacraemnto. 

San Francisco ... 

Stockton. 

Susanville. 

Visalia. 

Colorado— 

Akron.. 

Del Norte. 

Denver. 

Durango. 

Gunnison. 

Glenwood Springs 

Hugo. 

Leadville. 

Lamar. 

Montrose.. 

Pueblo. 

Sterling.. 

Florida— 

Gainesville. 

Idaho— 

Blackfoot. 

Boise. 

Coeur d’Alene.... 

Hailey. 

Lewiston. 

Iowa— 

Des Moines. 

Kansas— 

Colby. 

Dodge City. 

Topeka. 

Wakeeny. 

Louisiana— 

Natchitoches. 

New Orleans..i... 
Michigan— 

Marquette. 

Minnesota— 

Crookston. 

Duluth.. 

Marshall. 

St. Cloud.. 

Mississippi— 

Jackson. 

Missouri— 

Boonville. 

Ironton. 

Springfield. 

Montana— 


Robert Barker. 


P. M. Mullen. 

John W. Dudley. 
Franklin Moses.. 


Fredrick A. Tritle, Jr.. 
Milton R. Moore. 


Charles T. Duke_ 

Joseph H. Battenfield.. 
John I. Worthington... 
Harry H. Myers_ 


Henry A. Olesten.. 

Stafford W. Austin... 
Angus J. Crookshank. 
Frank W. Johnson.... 

Frank M. Swasey__ 

Thomas Fraser. 

Aaron B. Hunt. 

John D. Maxey.. 

Thomas S. Roseberry. 
Geo. W. Stewart....... 


Peter Campbell. 

James H. Baxter... 

Charles D. Ford. 

Fredrick C. Perkins... 
Melvin A. Deering.. 

John F. Squire. 

Lon E. Foote. 

Wat T. Beall. 

Willia mA. Merrill.. 
James A. Layton.... 

John R. Gordon. 

David C. Fleming... 


Walter G. Robinson.. 

Lorenzo R. Thomas... 

James King. 

David H. Budlong.... 

Neal J. Sharp. 

John B. West. 


Thornton S. Howard.. 

Kleber E. Wilcockson. 

Thomas A. Scates. 

George W. Fisher. 

Isaac T. Purcell. 


J. Ernest Breda.. 
Walter L. Cohen. 

Thomas Scadden. 


Sylvester Peterson... 
William E. Culkin... 
Cyrus P. Shepard... 
Myron D. Taylor. 


James Hill. 


William H. Martin — 

George Steel.. 

Martin V. Gideon..... 


RECEIVER. 
Herschel V. Cashin. 
John C. Leftwich. 

Wm. R. Edwards. 
Albert J. Apperson. 
Albert E. Rose. 

John C. Martin. 

John H. Bauman. 

Edward A. Shicker. 
John G. Chitwood. 
Felix S. Baker. 

John E. Bush. 

James F. Thompson. 
Frank E. Densmore. 
Arthur W. Kinney. 
Henry Malloch. 

Lloyd L. Carter. 
William A. Newcum 
Sargent S. Mortin. 
George A. McKenzie. 
Alfred H. Taylor. 
Othello Scribner. 

George W. Warner. 
Peter F. Barclay. 
Benjamin K Kimberly 
Daniel L. Sheets. 

Miss Martha C. Brown 
James W. Ross. 

John P. Dickinson. 
Fred Butler. 

C. Frost Liggett. 

John E. Pelton. 

John J. Lambert. 
Charles B. Timberlake 

Henry S. Chubb. 

George B. Rogers. 
Edward E. Garrett. 
Charles D. Warner. 
Wm. A. Hodgman. 
Charles H. Garby. 

Stephen J. Loughran. 

Cyrus Anderson. 

Lewis J. Pettijohn. 
Rudolph B. Welch. 
Frank W. King 

Charles J. Greene. 
Charles P. Johnston. 

John Jones. 

August F. George. 

Jay M. Smith. 
Christopher F. Case. 
Alva Eastman. 

George E. Matthews. 

Herman Schmidt. 

C. Sanford Russell. 
George A. Ramsey. 


Bozeman. Albert L. Love. Andrew J. Edsall. 


eiub Offer. 


new Opportunities for Vou and 
Vour friends. * « « « « 


For a limited time “PUBLIC LAND” will be sent to five 
different addresses when sent in by one person for five dollars. 

Hach issue of “PUBLIC LAND” will contain more of value 
to the subscriber interested in public laud matters than the full 
price of the year’s subscription. Some will receive a hundred 
times more. Get your friends to subscribe now. Send all re¬ 
mittances whenever possible by Post Office or Express Money 
Order, made payable to “PUBLIC LAND.” 

Office 124-25 Auditorium Blk, SPOKANE, WASH. 


Helena. 

Kalispell.... 

Lewistowh-. 

Miles City... 

Missoula.,... 

Nebraska^— 

Alliance. 

Broken Bow. 

Lincoln....... 

McCook. 

North Platte. 

O'Neill. 

Sidney. 

Valentine. 

Nevada— 

Carson City. 

New Mexico— 

Clayton. 

Las Cruces. 

Roswell. 

Santa Fe. 

North Dakota— 

Bismarck. 

Devil’s Lake. 

Fargo....’. 

Grand Fonts...... 

Minot. 

Oklahoma— 

Alya.. 

*E1 Reno. 

Enid. 

Guthrie.. .. 

Kingfisher. 

♦Lawton. 

Mangum. 

Oklahoma. 

Perry. 

Woodward. 

Oregon— 

Burns. 

La Grande. 

Lakeview. 

Oregon City. 

Roseburg.... 

The Dalles. 

South Dakota— 

Aberdeen.... 

Chamberlain. 

Huron. 

Mitchell. 

Pierre. 

Rapid City. 

Watertown. 

Utah- 

Salt Lake City... 

Washington- 
North Yakima.... 

Olympia. 

Seattle. 

Spokane.. 

Vancouver. 

Walla Walla. 

Waterville. 

Wisconsin— 

Ashland. 

Eau Claire. 

Wausau. 

Wyoming— 

Buffalo. 

Cheyenne. 

Evanston. 

Douglas... 

Lander 


George D. Greene. 

Frank H. Nash_ 

Edward Brassey... 
Samuel Gordon..,.. 
Elmer E. Hershey. 


Fred M. Dorrington... 

James Whitehead. 

Joseph W. Johnson.... 
Francis M. Rathbun.. 

George E. French. 

Stephen J. Weekes_ 

Robley D. Plarris. 

James C. Pettijohn_ 

Oliver H. Gallup. 


Edward W- Fox. 
Emil Solignac.... 
Howard Leland.. 
Manuel R. Otero. 


Alex. C. McGillivray.. 

Ole Serumgard.. 

Charles N. Valentine. 

Ernest H. Kent. 

Thomas E. Olsgard... 

Robert A. Cameron... 


James B. Cullison_ 

John Boles.. 

Emory D. Brownlee.. 
Henry D. McNight. 

John A. Trotter. 

Seymour S. Price. 

Alfred H. Boles. 

Frank D. Healy. 


John Horsky. 

William C. Whipps. 
Louis W. Eldridge. 
James M. Rhoades. 
William O. Ranft. 

William R. Akers. 
Prank H. Young. 
Thomas P. Kennard. 
Joel A. Piper. 

Frank Bacon. 

D. CJem Denver. 

James L.McIntosh, Jr 
Albert L. Towle. 

David H. Hall. 

Albert W. Thompson. 
Henry D. Bowman. 
David L. Geyer. 
Edward F. Hobart. 

John Satterlund. 
Henry E. Baird. 
DeWitt C. Tufts. 
Christian L. Llndstrom 
Abner L. flanscom. 

William J. French. 


George W. Hayes... 
Edward W. Bartlett... 
Eldon M. Brattain.. 
Charles B. Moores.. 
Joseph T. Bridges... 
Jay P. Lucas. 


John S. Vetter. 

William V. Lucas. 

Charles A. Blake...... 

George E. Foster. 

Albert Wheelon. 

George P. Bennett_ 

Lee Stover. 


Frank D. Hobbs. 


Walter J. Reed. 

Frank G. Deckebach. 
Edward P. Tremper.. 
William H. Ludden.... 
William R. Dunbar... 

John M. Hill.. 

Matthew B. Malloy_ 

August Doenitz. 

Alfred Cypreansen.... 
John W. Miller. 


Prince A. Gatchell.... 
William E. Chaplin... 

Charles Kingston. 

Albert D. Chamberlain. 

William T. Adams_ 

Sundance.. 'Alpha E, Hoyt. 

* Officers that have just been established to 
from the_Kiowa and Comanche reservations. 


David W. Eastman. 
Fredrick E. McKinley. 
Jacob V. Admire. 

Tames D. Maguire. 

John A. Oliphant. 
Anton H. Classen. 

Joel R. Scott. 

John W. Miller. 

Charles Newell. 
Samuel O. Swackhamer 
Harry Bailey. 

William Galloway. 
James H. Booth. 

Otis Patterson. 

Frank A. Brown. 
Charles L. Brockway. 
John Westdahl. 
Thomas C. Burns. 
Henry E. Cutting. 
William S. Warner. 
George W. Ease. 

George A. Smith. 

Miles Cannon. 

John O’B. Scobey. 
Columbus T. Tyler. 
Samuel A. Wells. 

Lynn B. Clough. 
Thomas Mosgrove. 
Luclen E. Kellog. 

Duportal G. Sampson 
Alexander Meggett. 
Henry G. MeCrossen. 


Ephraim H. Smock. 
Edward A. Slack. 
Frank M. Foote. 
Merris C. Barrow. 

Mrs. Minnie Williams. 
Samuel A. Young, 
accomodate the business 


Northwestern Business College, 

^-809 Second Avenue, SPOKANE, WASH.—- 

The leading- Business Training; School of the 
Inland Empire. Winter term opens Monday, 
January 6, 1902. Send for catalogue. 


=E. H. THOMPSON, Principal: 










































































































































































































































advertisements. 


FRED’K J. HOAGrLAJn), 


Attorney at Law, 


ODESSA, 


WASHINGTON. 


J. W. MARSHALL, 


ATTEND THE 

Puget Sound Business College 

for a practical, up-to-date business course. 
Bookkeeping, penmanship, stenography 
and typewriting. Send ten cents for sam¬ 
ple dozen cards and how you can earn 
I? 1 ?? 8 Pare time. Address 

5: KNAUF, Principal, 902 Yakima are., 

Tacoma, Wash. 


WENTWORTH CLOTHING 60. 

Reliable Mens’ and 
Boys’ Outfitters. 

709-11 Riverside Ave. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 


J. W. MeCUNE, 


Attorney at Law. 


Practice In all the Courts. 


KY Auditorium Blk., SPOKANE, WASH 

100,000 Acres Vacant Govern¬ 
ment Land in Lincoln County 
Washington. 

Get a “PUBLIC LAND ” blue print 
map of Lincoln County, Washington. It 
^hows you the exact description of over 

100,000 ACRES OF VA¬ 
CANT GOVERNMENT 

Land in the famous “Big Bend” country. 
It is corrected up to date of purchase, is 
made from the Land Office records, is 
absolutely correct and shows all the va¬ 
cant land in Lincoln County. Sent by 
mail on receipt of $2.50, address 

“PUBLIC LAND” 

124-125 Auditorium Bldg. 
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 


“Public Land” 

has made several of its readers over 


0. W. KENNEDY, 

Lively Stable*, 

Gentle Driving Horses. Good Drivers to 
show you the land you want to see. 
Everything first class. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 


DOUGLAS HOTEL, 

William Newlove, Prop., 

AMERICAN PLAN. 

n.ee and tt.BO Per Day. 

Prompt, Neat, Clean Sendee. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 

WILSON CREEK LIVERY STABLE 
R. I. Armstrong, Prop. 

GOOD HORSES, GOOD RIGS, GOOD 
DRIVERS, FIRST CLASS 
SERVICE. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 


CLAIR HUNT, 

Civil E/ngiraeor 
U. S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor. 

BOSSBURG, - - WASHINGTON. 


Farm and City Property For Sal© 
or Exchange. 

MONEY TO LOAN. 

7-8 Sherwood Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


I Can Locate You 

On Good Fruit, Timber, Grazing or 
Farm Lands close to Spokane. This 
is vacant Government Land. There 
are a few choice claims left. 

WILL H. BINFORD, 

N. W. Cor. Gardner & Mill. Spokane 


H^ S. Swenson, Clyde C. H enion, 

United States Commissioner. Notary Public* 

SWENSON & HENION, 

Timber and Agricultural Rands. Homestead 
and timber locations. Agents townsite of New¬ 
port. 

Publishers of NEWPORT MINER, $1. so per year. 
NEWPORT, WASHINGTON. 


AUGUST MEYER 

DEALER IN 


PIANOS 

AND 

ORGANS 


$500 

By bringing opportunities to their 
notice which they would not have 
learned in any other way. There 
are many more of these—- 

$500 

pieces in store for those who read 

“Public Land” 


INLAND PRINTING COMPANY, 

610-612 Sprague Ave. 

Print Anything. Try us with your 
next order. 

It will save you money. 


II. L. SCHERMERH0RN, 
United States Commissioner 

There’s lot* of good Vacant Agricultural Land 
tributary to 

LIND, . - - WASHINGTON 


919 Riverside Ave. 

SPOKANE, WASH. 


ip 01 Moms (Soil, Mill 

A fine Blue Print Map of that part of 
Adams County, which is in the 
Spokane Falls, Washington Land 
District, comprising thirty-two town¬ 
ships and showing all the vacnat land 
in each township and corrected up 
to date will be sent by mail on re¬ 
ceipt of price—$2.50. Address 

“PUBLIC LAND” 

124-125 Auditorium Bldg. 

Spokane. Washington. 











































, 



Walton 8c Goodsell, Land Attorneys 1 


Leave of absence from your Homestead. Applications to 
amend your Homstead and making of all papers pertaining to 
Public Lands. Contests, protests and other bearings before 
any U. S. Land Office. The Commissioner of the General 
Land Office and the Interior Department. Mining Applica¬ 
tions. Military Bounty Land Warrants. Forest Reserve, 
Soldier’s Additional Homestead, and all other Land Scrips 
bought and sold. We can get your tangles straightened with¬ 
out your coming to the office 


Office Rooms 124-25 Auditorium Block, Phone Main 369 

- ^ jL^ytor^L ^ ----- 


FREE HOMESTEADS 


I know the location of several first-class pieces of 
Government Land that can be secured under the 
Homestead Law, in 

Douglas County, Washington 

upon which I will locate persons desiring homesteads. 
This land is fine agricultural prairie land and is es¬ 
pecially adapted to wheat raising, being situated in 
what is known as the Big Bend Country of Eastern 
Washington, the banner wheat country of the State. 

W. H. BURNS, 

Wilson Creek, Washington 

Enquire at Bank of Wilson Creek. 


400 HOMESTEAD CLAIMS IN ADAMS 
COUNTY, STATE OF WASHINGTON. 

We have a Blue Print Map showing the exact 
location of all the vacant land in that part of Adams 
county, state of Washington, that is within the Spo¬ 
kane Falls district, which is corrected up to date, 
that we will give to every club raiser who sends us 
in ten paid yearly subscribers at one dollar each. The 
regular price of the map is $2.50. 


















CONGRESS. 

>r Copy ftsceivgo 

FEB, 3 1902 

COPYRIGHT ENTRY 


■ASS XXo, No.! 

COPY ^ , j 


77/£//0/7£.77M£f/o £//£ 7/Off Of f//£ MW//. 





cs PVBLISHED 

^ WEEKLY. 


DEVOTED TO THOSE 
INTERESTED IIW 
T HE PVB 

o 

VniTED 


$1.50 PER YEAR 
in ADVAfiCE. 


9 


Vol. i. No. 24. Spokane, Wash., Jan.. 28, 1902. Single Copies, 10 Cents 


CONTENTS. 


Editorial— 

Build Homes. 1 

The New Forest Reserve. 1 


Current Topics— 

Many Negroes. 2 

The Independent Ditch Co. 2 

The Homeseekers Co. 2 


Minerals and Timber— 

Malheur County, Oregon. 3 

The New Idaho-Montana Forest 
Reserve. 3 

; New Opportunities— 

Over 100,000 Acres. 4 

;Fort Totten. .4 

m 


Las Animas. 4 

Fort Hall.4 

The Rosebud. 4 


Land Laws and Decisions— 

Opening Military Reservations. 5 


Military Land Warrants. 5 

Survey of Settled Laud. 5 


Miscellany— 

Answers to Subscribers. 6 

Personals. 6 

What We Want to Know. 7 

Vancouver, Wash. 7 

Minot, N. D. 7 


Land Offices and Officers of the 
United States (corrected).... 8 




















































ADVERTISEMENTS 


C. H. HOLDEN, 

Attorney at Law. 

Choice timber lands In large or small 
tracts. Timber land cruised and estimates 
given. Government lands located. Fruit 
lands. Ranch land. Grazing land for sale. 
Climate unsurpassed; no cold, no heat, 
lands, ranch land, grazing land for sale, 
no cyclones. Correspondence solicited. 

FLORENCE, OREGON. 

BOIXIN J. REEVES, 


United States Commissioner, 


WILBUR, WASHINGTON. 

STOREY MOOR HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

la and for District ef Washington. 


HOQUIAM, WASHINGTON. 

A. E. SWANSON, 

United States Commissioner, 


Notary Public, Loans 
and Collections—Conveyancer 


WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 

GUMMING BROS. & POWELL, 
Choice Timber and Homestead Loca¬ 
tions on Government Land. 

TIMBER CRUISED AND ESTIMATES GIVEN 

Fruit, grazing and ranch lands and pine and 
cedar timber for sale. 

80154 Riverside Are. SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 

LAND SCRIP 

-FOR- 

Surveyed or Unsurveyed 

Government Land, lowest prices, 
and quick delivery. We also 
have some choice saw mill loca¬ 
tions, and timber lands in white 
pine belt of Northern Idaho. 

New Northwestern Lumber Co., 

•2-63 Jsmsssr Black. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


UNITED STATES COMMISSIONERS 


ALABAMA 

ELLIOTT G. R 1 CKARBY, 

United States Commissioner 

86 St. Michaels St., MOBILE 


COLORADO 

H. A. WILDHACK, 

United States Commissioner 

MEEKER 

CALIFORNIA. 

J. WILL SMITH, 

Attorney and U. S. Commissioner 

SANTA BARBARA 

IDAHO 

JAMES DeHAVEN, 

United States Commissioner 

GRANGEVILLE 

T. D. HASTIE, 

United States Commissioner- 

OROFINO 

ILLINOIS. 

SIMEON.TV KING, 

United States Commissioner 

Room 941, Monadnock Block, CHICAGO 

MONTANA 

JOHN McDOWELL, 

United States Commissoner 

GOLD BUTTE 

NEW MEXICO. 

W. S. GEORGE, 

U. S. Court Commissioner, Mining 
Engineer, Mines, Farm Lands, etc. 

COONEY, SOCARRO COUNTY 


WASHINGTON 

A. R. SWANSON, 

United States Commissoner 

WILSON CREEK 

SIDNEY MOOR HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

HOQUIAM 

ROLLIN J. REEVES, 

United States Commissioner 

WILBUR 

J. W. MARSHALL, 

Attorney and United States Commissoner 

Auditorium, SPOKANE 

M. L. SCHERMERHORN, 

United States Commissioner 

LIND 

H. S. SWENSON, 

United States Commissioner 

NEWPORT 

WYOMING. 

ORIN hTwOODS, 

United States Commissioner 

BASIN 


HOMES FOB, THE HOMESEEKEBS 

LANDS FOR THE LANDLESS. 

We have a large list of the choicest 
farming lands In the Big Bend mad 
throughout the Inland Empire. Improved 
farms $15 to $20 per acre. This Is the sec¬ 
tion that produces 30,000,000 bushels of 
wheat per annum. Fine fruit; no failures; 
Ideal climate. Money placed for non-resi¬ 
dents on first mortgages on first clams 
land. Trantum & Schoonover. Odessa,Wa. 


JNO. JAS. GBAVES, 


Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, 
Conveyancer, Beal Estate, 


MEYERS FALLS, WASHINGTON. 


J. B. ZIEGLER, 

Notary Public, Beal Estate and Fir* 
Insnrance Agent. 

IMPROVED FARM LANDS, RAW 
LANDS AND TOWN PROPER¬ 
TIES FOR SALE. 


Prices and Terms will be Furnished 
Promptly. 


Office on First Avenue. 


ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 





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PATENT LAWYERS, 

Le Droit Bldg., WASHINGTON, P. C. 




Free Homesteads. 


There are over 100 good quarter sections with 
in short distance of the Great Northern Railroad 
that are subject to homestead entry, the same 
kind of land that produced 40 bushels of wheat 
to the acre this year. We have an accurate 
knowledge of these vacant tracts and will locate 
desirable parties on them at very reasonable 
rates. Call on 


H. E. STONE, 

With O. W. Stone Undertaking Co. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON 




















































PUBLIC LAND. 


r//£//o/7f,m/fffi/5 t//£//op£ ofr//£/Mrm 



Offices 124-125 Auditorium Bldg., Spokane, Wash. 


ADVERTISING RATES ON APPLICATION. 
Entered at Spokane, Wash., as Second Class Mail Matter. 
Copyrighted 1901 by Walton A Goodsell. 


Vol. 1. Spokane, Wash , Jan. 28,1902. No. 24. 


BUILD HOMES. 

There are so many opportunities for acquiring va¬ 
cant land in the different public land States that al¬ 
most any man, who has not a profitable business or 
at least one which he cannot afford to' leave, can ob¬ 
tain for himself a tract of land upon which he can 
build a home. In addition to the thousands of claims 
where a man can go and make a living at once, there 
are many others that would not do this in their na¬ 
tural condition,'but which could be made to do so 
by the expenditure of a reasonable sum of money. 

The two most striking instances of this is in cases 
where the land does not receive sufficient rain fall 
to' insure a crop and where by diverting a small quan¬ 
tity O'f water from a nearby stream the land is made 
to produce bountifully. Another is that where by 
running a short “cut” through a dyke or other ob¬ 
struction a large body of land can be drained and 
converted into the best kind of hay land. There are 
few men in business who do not expect to retire when 
old age overtakes them. Why not then make some 
provision for a retreat while there is yet “heat af¬ 
fection, limb and beauty” to make their riches pleas¬ 
ant. I f one does not care to earn title to Governmen t 
land by residence under the homestead law, then 
buy a piece of land and make it produce something' 
every year, at any rate become the possessor of suffi¬ 
cient land upon which you know you can produce a 
living if circumstances require it, and you will not 
only be more respected by your neighbors, but you 
will have a higher regard for yourself arid probably 
with better reasons'. 


THE NEW FOREST RESERVE. 

The new Forest Reserve, or rather the lands which 
are to compose it, have been temporarily withdrawn 
in Idaho and Montana. This Reserve will contain 
some timber land perhaps two per cent. The lands, 
which have been settled upon and improved for 
years (and which are therefore beyond the control 
of the Department so far as preventing the cutting 
and removal of the timber is concerned) are many 
times greater than the actual amount of timber land 
in the new Reserve. 

This move on the part of the Department is doubt¬ 
less due to representations made to it by interested 
parties and not upon information received from its 
authorized agents. Whether the information came 
from the Northern Pacific Company or not is un¬ 
known to us, but we do know that that company 
would receive about all the benefit that could come 
from a move of this kind. That company has thou- 
sands of acres of land in the new Reserve which is 
worthless from a commercial point of view, and 
which it would gladly exchange for the finest white 
pine timber lands in the west, as it is now doing in 
the State of Idaho: We do know that the creation 
of this reserve will result in the passage of thousands 
upon thousands of acres of fine timber and agricul¬ 
tural lands into the hands of the, synidcate and other 
corporations to the great detriment of the genera! 
public and to the permanent prosperity of the nation. 
What is intended by the Department as a move for 
conserving the forests of the country and a regula¬ 
tor of the water supply, will therefore bring exactly 
the opposite results, for the reason that the barren 
worthless lands will at once be exchanged for the 
finest timber in the country which in turn will imme¬ 
diately pass into the hands of the synidcate timber 
manufacturers “who will destroy the forests which 
the Departrrient is trying to save. Another evil re¬ 
sulting from this state of affairs would be the im¬ 
proper location of large quantities of this scrip on 
lands that were known to be occupied by bona fide’ 
settlers. This thing is being done at the present 
time and we believe the’opportunities afforded by the 
creation of this new reserve would be used for the 
same dishonest purpose. For the reasons stated we 
are opposed to the Reserve. 


20,000 claims are reported to have been affected 
by the decision of the assistant attorney-general in 
the citizenship: matter of the Mississippi Choctaw In¬ 
dians, who were located in the Choctaw natiori. - - - - 





































2 


PUBLIC LAND. 


CURRENT TOPICS. 


MANY NEGROES from the Southern States 
have gone into the Creek Nation and Governor Por¬ 
ter of the Creeks has been appealed to by his people 
to put a stop to the rush, and prevent them from 
appropriating their land. 

THE INDEPENDENT DITCH' COMPANY 
cf San Juan County, New Mexico, has decided to 
spend $10,000 at once in extending and improving 
their irrigation canal. 


SEVERAL HUNDRED claims which were 
drawn in the recent Kiowa-Comanche Reserve have 
not been settled upon and it is suggested that they 
will not be, as there were many holders of coupons 
to that drawing who would be satisfied with noth¬ 
ing but a capital prize. 

THE HOMESEEKERS’ IRRIGATION SET¬ 
TLEMENT COMPANY are building a canal to 
reclaim 60,000 acres on the benches of the Platte 
river below Saratoga, Utah, and are going to erect 
a large sugar factory to handle the beets raised by 
the new colony. 


CLARKSTON WASH., is sinking an artesian 
well. Those in charge of the work expect to secure 
a flow of water at a thousand feet. Although there 
are two flowing wells on the Dowd farm just a few 
miles from this point on the Idaho side of the river, 
which can only boast of a depth of a little over a 
hundred feet. /* 


TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND HOME- 
SEEKERS is the number estimated by the immi¬ 
gration agents which will seek homes in the North¬ 
west. The transportation companies are preparing 
tc handle that number. They expect the heaviest 
immigration to come from Pennsylvania, Ohio, In¬ 
diana, Southern Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas 
and Nebraska. 


A NOVELTY in homesteading was presented 
last week at the Duluth (Minn.) Land Office. The 
land embraced in the application, which was made 
by Pearl H. Smith of Superior, was about ten rods 
wide and nearly five miles long, and contains a few 
acres less than a quarter section. There are four 
other claimants to the land, including one scrip loca¬ 
tion, and it gives promise of being a long drawn 
out controversy. 


iVRCOLA ILLINOIS furnished a colony who re¬ 
cently purchased seven thousand acres near Cleve¬ 
land, Mississippi. The boom in Douglas County, 
Illinois lands has suggested the idea of purchasing 
lower priced lands in the west and south. The seven¬ 
ty-five dollar per acre lands in that County have in¬ 
creased to $125 per acre during the past year and 
the farmers of moderate means are selling out and 
are now looking for new locations. 

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT, on the repre¬ 
sentation of Representative Burke of South Dakota, 
has agreed to withhold his approval of the whole¬ 
sale leases for lands aggregating 1,000,000 acres in 
South Dakota until the objections could be presented 
in a more formal manner. The chief objection to 
the leases is, of course, the fact that it will prevent 
settlement of the lands for a long term of years. 
This also applies to the Cheyenne lands as well as 
others. 


TWO ACRES of land are offered each colored 
man who will establish himself in Tunis by the 
French Colonizer Society. Thousands of circulars 
are in coyrse of distribution among the colored peo¬ 
ple of the south in the hope that they may be in¬ 
duced to become agriculturists in the faraway land 
of the archipelago. This would seem to be a waste 
of energy that could better be spent by inducing 
young Frenchmen to come to America. The colored 
man of the south will hardly be misled by this little 
bait when he can get 160 acres by remaining in his 
native land. 


TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOU¬ 
SAND ACRES were purchased last week from the 
Northwestern Colonization and Improvement Com¬ 
pany. This land is in the State of Chihauhau, Mex¬ 
ico, and extends along the northern boundary line 
of that State for a distance of nearly 175 miles. The 
strip of land is about thirty miles. The land was 
purchased by Mayor Jepp Ryan of Leavenworth, 
Kan., John Holt of Miles City, Mont., Thomas B. 
McPherson of Omaha, Neb., and E. J. Carter of 
Chicago. Mr. Carter is a brother of the ex-Senator 
from Montana and is the one who promoted the deal. 
The purchase price was $700,000 and carried with 
it several concessions, such as freedom from tax¬ 
ation for fifteen years and import duties on all ar¬ 
ticles taken from the United States into the land. 
The lands were purchased from the Mexican Gov¬ 
ernment by the Colonization Company, who earned 
title by colonizing that territory. 
















PUBLIC LAND. 


3 


MINERALS AND TIMBER. 

THE SECOND OIL WELL drilled near Boul¬ 
der, Col., began flowing last week and with it land 
values to multiply. There is much excitement over 
the new strike. 

THE STATE OF IDAHO has now closed out 
the last of its timber holdings in Potlatch white pine 
belt. The finishing sale took place last week when 
the timber on fourteen sections in township 39, north 
c-f range 1, was sold to Henry Turrish of West Su¬ 
perior, Wis. The timber was sold at the appraised 
price of $1 per thousand feet for the white pine and 
75 cents for red fir, yellow pine and cedar. The sale 
aggregated over $12,000. 

MALHEUR COUNTY, OREGON, is the scene 
of great activity at the present time owing to the 
strong oil indications that are scattered over an erea 
of many square miles, around and near Vale and 
which now constitutes an oil reserve. The lands in 
this dictrict having been withdrawn from appropri¬ 
ation under the general land laws, to permit a 
thorough exploration for oil. 

Sol Hirsch, of Portland, is the head of a syndicate 
which is reported to have control of over ten thou¬ 
sand acres of this land. This Company has spent 
several thousand dollars in that oil belt for machinery 
and the necessary incidentals. Everything is re¬ 
ported to be moving forward at a promising gait and 
if a gusher is not a reality in Malheur County in the 
near future, it will not ‘be due to lack of enterprise 
and energy of the Hirsch syndicate and other strong 
companies now operating there. 

THE NEW IDAHO-MONTANA FOREST 
RESERVE. 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 
GENERAL LAND OFFICE. 

Washington, D. C., Dec. 18, 1901. 

Proposed Kootenai Forest Reserve, 

Idaho and Montana. 

Register and Receiver, Kalispell, Mont.: 

Gentlemen—You are directed by authority of the 
Secretary of the Interior to withdraw from settle¬ 
ment, entry, sale or other disposal, all of the vacant, 
unappropriated public lands within the following de¬ 
scribed boundaries, which fall within the Kalispell 

district: .. , 

Beginning at the point where the section line be¬ 
tween Sections eleven (11) and twelve (12) Town¬ 
ship sixty-five (65) North, Range one (!) West, 


Boise Meridian, Idaho, intersects the international 
boundary line between the States of Idaho and the 
British possessions; thence southerly to the south¬ 
west corner of Section twenty-four (24) said town¬ 
ship; thence easterly to the southeast corner of Sec¬ 
tion nineteen (19), Township sixty-five (65) North, 
Range one (1) East; thence southerly to the south ¬ 
west corner of Section thirty-two (32), said town¬ 
ship; thence easterly to the southeast corner of said 
section; thence southerly to the southwest corner of 
•Section twenty-eight (28), Township sixty-four 
(64) North, Range one (1) East; thence easterly to 
the southeast corner of said section; thence southerly 
to the southwest corner of Section thirty-four (34), 
said township; thence easterly to the southeast cor¬ 
ner of said section; thence southerly to the south¬ 
west corner of Section two (2), Township sixty- 
three (63) North, Range one (1) East; thence east¬ 
erly to the southeast corner of said section; thence 
southerly to the southwest corner of Section twenty 
four (24), said township; thence easterly to the 
southeast corner of said section; thence southerly 
along the township line to the southwest corner of 
Section six (6), Township sixty-two (62) North, 
Range two (2) East; thence easterly along the sec¬ 
tion line to the point of intersection with the boun¬ 
dary line between the States of Idaho and Mon¬ 
tana; thence southerly along said boundary line to 
its intersection with the Thirteenth (13th) Stand¬ 
ard Parallel North, Idaho; thence westerly along 
said Parallel to the Kootenai River; thence in a 
general southeasterly and northerly direction, up the 
Kootenai River, along its right bank, to its inter¬ 
section with the Ninth (9th) Standard Parallel 
North, Montana; thence westerly along said Parallel 
to the southwest corner of Section thirty-four (34), 
Township thirty-seven (37) North, Range twenty- 
eight (28) West, Principal Meridian, Montana; 
thence northerly along the section line to its intersec¬ 
tion with the international boundary line between 
the State of Montana and the British possessions; 
thence westerly along said boundary line to the point 
o intersection with the section line between Sec¬ 
tions eleven (11) and twelve (12), Township sixty- 
five (65) North, Range one (1) West, Boise Merid¬ 
ian, Idaho, to the place of beginning. 

This temporary withdrawal of the above described 
lands or any permanent reservation of same result¬ 
ing therefrom will not affect any bona fide settlement 
or other valid claim thereon, properly initiated prior 
to the date hereof, which is duly made of record 
within the statutory period. Very respectfully, 

BINGER HERMANN, Commissioner. 








4 


PUBLIC LAND. 


NEW OPPORTUNITIES. 


OVER 100,000 ACRES of vacant Government 
land is still left in Lincoln County, Washington, 
which this past season produced over 10,000,000 
bushels of wheat and only 'had about one-fourth of 
the' county sown to crop. 


THE FORT TOTTEN Reservation, whose 
northern boundary is the heavily wooded shore of 
Devil’s Lake, presents many opportunities for the 
bomeseeker. This land is in Benson County, North 
Dakota, and may be reached from Devils Lake on 
the Great Northern or Minnewaukon on the North¬ 
ern Pacific Railroad. The Reservation is a small 
one, but owing to the rare fertility of the soil, is at¬ 
tracting the attention of settlers. 


LAS ANIMAS RESERVATION OPENED. 

The .Las Animas Reservation, containing about 
250,000 acres, was thrown open to appropriation 
under the general settlement laws last week. This 
land is in Huerfano, and Las Animas counties, Col¬ 
orado, and in the Pueblo land district. A large part, 
of this land is excellent for agricultural purposes 
and the remainder is rich in coal and other minerals. 
The area is eighteen by twenty miles. 


THE CHOCTAW, Oklahoma Gulf Railroad has 
now adopted the plan of letting out the land along 
its right of way to settlers who will cultivate it artd 
are making no charge for the privilege. The object 
of the company in adopting this method was for 
the purpose of settling up the country directly tribu¬ 
tary to it. The scheme is working to the entire sat¬ 
isfaction of the officers of the road and hundreds of 
families are settling on the free land. 


THE DRY GULCH Ditch Company of Eagle 
Valley, Oregon, will complete its thirteen-mile ditch 
about the first of June and will then have the waters 
of Eagle Creek above 3000 acres of fine agricultural 
land, well adapted to alfalfa, grains and fruit. The 
Company, at a recent meeting, elected the following 
officers : Frank Diamond, President; Mat Simonis, 
Vice President; Hans Ott, Secretary; Orvil Wilson. 
Treasurer; G. W. Martin, J. Farley and R. Guyer, 
Directors. 


SEVEN HUNDRED RELINQUISHMENTS 
have so far been filed in the El Reno (Oklahomo) 
Land District which were among the 6300 lucky 
numbers drawn at the opening of the Kiowa-Coman- 


che Reservation. These relinquishments were near¬ 
ly all from clerks and others who had never farmed 
any and perhaps never intended to when they made 
their filing. This, however, makes opportunities for 
the real farmer. Many of the relinquishments have 
been obtained for nominal sums, although some have 
paid fancy prices for choice.locations. 


FORT HALL INDIAN RESERVATION.: 

The citizens of Pocatello have sent a delegation 
to Washington to present the passage of a bill plac¬ 
ing the lands about to be thrown open to settlement 
on that Reserve under irrigation. Judge D. W. 
Standrod, Republican National Committeeman for 
Idaho, heads the delegation. He will also be as¬ 
sisted by Major A. F. Caldwell, agent of the Fore 
Plall Reservation. An attempt was made by the 
Idaho Canal Company to supply this territory with 
water for irrigation purposes, and in anticipation 
of its success Congress provided that all farm land 
coming beneath this canal should be paid for at the' 
rate of $10 per acre. The company did not com- 1 
plete the enterprise and it is now the purpose of the 
Pocatello people to have the Government complete 
the work. 


THE ROSEBUD Indian Reservation in South 
Dakota will probably not be opened before the mid¬ 
dle of the year. It is expected that the drawing or 1 
lottery system will be the one used. Many people ■- 
are now flocking to Pierre in the hope of drawing 
one of the lucky numbers. A great many are locat¬ 
ing on the vacant lands which are already open for ’ 
settlement. During the first ten days of January 
Pierre Office made forty-six homestead entries.. 
There will be 416,000 acres opened for settlement. 
The treaty negotiated with the Indians by Inspector 
McLaughlin of the Indian Bureau provides for the 
payment of $2.50 per acre to them for the lands 
ceded. The delay in the opening of the Reserva¬ 
tion has been due to a few disgruntled Indians rais¬ 
ing their customary howl which is always expected 
on such occasions. These Indians claim that; they i 
were led by a Chicago attorney to believe that they 
could force a large payment per acre for their lands.: 
by objecting to the treaty which had been ratified - 
for several months. The attorney was to get his 
per cent of the increased price as his pay for foment¬ 
ing the dissatisfaction on the part of the Indians. 

1 he objections have now been withdrawn and there 
seems to be no reason why the matter should not be 
passed up to President Roosevelt at an early date. . : 
















PUBLIC LAND. 


5 


LAND LAWS AND DECISIONS. 


Opening of Abandoned Military Reservations— 
Preference Right Given to Settlers Resid¬ 
ing Thereon. 

AN ACT to Provide for the Opening of Certain 
Abandoned Military Reservations, and 
for Other Purposes. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE SENATE AND 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN CON¬ 
GRESS ASSEMBLED, That all lands not already 
disposed of included within the limits of any aban¬ 
doned military reservation heretofore placed under 
the control of the Secretary of the Interior for dis¬ 
position under the act approved July fifth, eighteen 
hundred and eighty-four, the disposal of which has 
not been provided for by a subsequent act of Con¬ 
gress, where the area exceeds five-thousand acres, 
except such legal subdivisions as have Government 
improvements thereon, and except also such other 
parts as are now or may be reserved for some public 
use, are hereby opened to settlement under the pub¬ 
lic land laws of the United States and a preference 
right of entry for a period of six months from the 
date of this act shall be given all bona fide settlers 
who are qualified to enter under the homestead law 
and have made improvements and are now. residing 
upon any agricultural lands in said reservations, and 
for a period of six months from the date of settle¬ 
ment when that shall occur after the date of this 
act: PROVIDED, That persons who enter under 
the homestead law shall pay for such lands not less 
than the value heretofore or hereafter determined 
by appraisement, nor less than the price of the land 
at the time of the entry, and such payment, may at 
the option of the purchaser, be made in five equal 
installments, at times and at rates, of interest to be 
fixed by the Secretary of the Interior. 

Sec. 2. That nothing contained in this act slial! 
be construed to suspend or to interfere with the 
operation of the said act approved July fifth, 
-eighteen hundred and eighty-four, as to all lands 
included in abandoned military reservations here¬ 
after* placed under the control of the Secretary oi 
the Interior for disposal, and all appraisements re¬ 
quired by the first section of this act shall be in 
accordance with the provisions of said act of July 
fifth, eighteen hundred and eighty-four. 

Approved August 23, 1894. (28 Stat. 491.) 

Military Bounty Land Warrants—Location Of. 


AN ACT to Provide for the Location and Satisfac¬ 
tion of Outstanding Military Bounty Land War¬ 
rants and Certificates of Location Under Section 
Three of the Act Approved June Second, Eighteen 
Hundred and Fifty-eight. 

BE IT ENACTER BY THE SENATE AND 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN CON¬ 
GRESS ASSEMBLED, That in addition to the 
benefits now given thereto by law, all unsatisfied mil¬ 
itary bounty land warrants under any act of Con¬ 
gress, and unsatisfied indemnity certificates of loca¬ 
tion under the act of Congress approved June second, 
eighteen hundred and fifty-eight, whether heretofore 
or hereafter issued, shall be receivable at the rate of 
one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre in payment 
or part payment for any lands entered under the 
desert land law of March third, eighteen hundred 
and eighty-(seventy) seven, entitled ‘‘An act to pro¬ 
vide for the sale of desert lands in certain States 
and Territories,” and the amendments thereto, the 
timber culture law of March third, eighteen hundred 
and seventy-three, entitled “An act to encourage the 
growth of timber on the western prairies,” and the 
amendments thereto; the timber and stone law of 
June third, eighteen hundred and seventy-eight, en¬ 
titled “An act for the sale of timber lands in the 
States of California, Oregon, Nebraska and Wash¬ 
ington Territory, and the amendments thereto, or 
for lands which may be sold at public auction, ex¬ 
cept such lands as shall have been purchased from 
any Indian tribe within ten years last past. " - 
Approved, December 13, 1894. (28 Stat. 594 -) 


Survey of Public Lands at Request of Persons or 
Association of Persons—Special De¬ 
posits Therefor. 

AN ACT to Amend Sections Twenty-four Hundred 
and One and Twenty-four Hundred and Three 
of the Revised Statutes. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE SENATE AND 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF-THE 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN CON¬ 
GRESS ASSEMBLED, That section twenty-four 
hundred and one of the Revised States of the United 
States is hereby amended so as to read as follows: 

“Sec. 2401, When the settlers in any township 
nto mineral or reserved by the Government, or per¬ 
sons and associations lawfully possessed • of coal 
lands and otherwise qualified to make entry thereof,- 
or when the owners or grantees of public lands :of 
the United States under any law thereof, desire .a 










6 


PUBLIC LAND, 


survey made of the same under the authority of the 
surveyor general and shall file an application there¬ 
for in writing, and shall deposit in a proper United 
States depository to the credit of the United States 
all expenditure incident thereto, without cost or 
claim for indemnity on the United States, it shall 
be lawful for the surveyor general, under such in¬ 
structions as may be given him by the Commissioner 
of the General Land Office, and in accordance with 
law, to survey such township or such public lands 
■owned by said grantees of the Government, and 
make return therefor to the general and proper local 
land office: PROVIDED, That no application shall 
be granted unless the township so proposed to be 
surveyed is within the range of the regular progress 
of the public surveys embraced by existing standard 
lines or bases for township and subdivisional sur¬ 
veys.” 

Sec. 2. That section twenty-four hundred and 
three of the Revised Statutes of the United States 
tis heretofore amended is hereby amended so as to 
read as follows: 

“Sec. 2403. Where settlers or owners or grantees 
of public lands make deposits in accordance with 
the provisions of section twenty-four hundred and 
one, as hereby amended, certificates shall be issued 
tor such deposits which may be used by settlers in 
part payment for the lands settled upon by them the 
survey of which is paid for out of such deposits, or 
said certificates may be assigned by indorsement and 
may be received by the Government in payment for 
any public lands of the United States in the States 
where the surveys were made, entered or to be en¬ 
tered under the laws thereof 

Sec. 3. That all laws and parts of laws inconsis¬ 
tent with this act be, and the same are hereby, re¬ 
pealed. Aug. 20, 1894 (28 Stat. 423). 


MISCELLANY. 


,. ANSWERS TO SUBSCRIBERS. 

Under this head complete answers will be given 
to subscribers’ questions concerning the public land 
of the United States. Name and address of each 
subscriber must be given with letter asking the 
question. 

A. L. Z., Tyson, Idaho: Myself, in common with 
a number of other settlers, are occuping unsurveyed 
land in the State of Idaho. We are desirous of hav¬ 
ing the. same surveyed; can you inform us how to 
proceed ? 

Answer: The Act of August 20, 1894, made pro¬ 


vision for cases similar to yours. You can file your 
application with the Surveyor General of Idaho, who 
is located at Boise City, and deposit the approximate 
cost of the survey in the proper United States de¬ 
pository. This money will be returned to you in the 
form of certificates, which may be used or assigned 
by you, and the Government will accept the same as 
cash in payment for other lands. See “Land Laws 
and Decisions,” page 5. 

E. T. T., Devils Lake: Is there any law which 
will give the settlers on the Fort Totten Military 
Reservation any advantage over the later comers, 
cr, in other words, will the settlers there have any 
preference right of entry, and if so, what is it? 

Answer: We have no information on the subject 
other than the act of August 23, 1894 (28 Stat. 
491), which see on page 5 under “Land Laws and 
Decisions.” 


S. & G., Garden City, Kan.: Can title be obtained 
to vacant Government land by the location of mili¬ 
tary bounty land warrants upon it? 

Answer: No, military bounty land warrants can¬ 
not be used in any State except Missouri to obtain 
title to vacant Government land and cannot be used 
any place in the United States where $1.25 in cash 
would not be accepted in place of the warrant. See 
“Land Laws and Decisions,” page 5. 


E. P., Lamona, Wash.: A widow made home¬ 
stead entry in her own name and right; she has three 
children, two of whom are adults and the other a 
minor; can she will the homestead wholly to the 
minor heir, and by so doing completely cut the other 
heirs off ? 

Answer: Yes, she can will the unperfected home¬ 
stead to the minor heir, but she could not devise it 
away from him. 


PERSONALS. 

THE PRESIDENT HAS NOMINATED'Hon. 
Manuel R. Otero to succeed himself as Register of 
the Land Office at Santa Fe, N. M. 

CAPTAIN WILLIAM R. AKERS, Receiver of 
the Alliance (Neb.) Land Office, has been nomi¬ 
nated to succeed himself. 

DR. ROBLEY D. HARRIS will have his name 
presented to the Senate for confirmation in a few 
days. The Doctor has been Register of the Sidney 
(Neb.) Land Office for the past four years and has 
now about secured the credentials for another term. 













_ PUBLIC 

WHAT WE WANT TO KNOW. 

Under this head the publishers will ask a number 
of questions each week, and invite answers to them 
by any of our readers who may be interested in the 
development of their districts. We wish it distinct¬ 
ly understood that the answers must be composed of 
facts, wholly freed from all fiction, and based upon 
the personal knowledge of the person answering 
the question. As an evidence of good faith always 
give full name and postoffice, but not for publication. 

Where there is a tract of 160 acres or more of 
vacant agricultural land in a known artesian belt. 
Give numbers of land distance from nearest town 
and most practical method of reaching the same. 
If the tract is large enough for colonization pur¬ 
poses, give full particulars. 


Where there is an opportunity for fifty families 
to locate a tract of vacant Government land upon 
which sufficient water can be placed for irrigation 
purposes under a practical gravity system. State 
approximate amount of land, where and how the 
water can be obtained and the distance it would 
need to be conducted before it could be used on the 
land. 


One year’s subscription will be added to the credit 
of any subscriber who furnishes us absolutely cor¬ 
rect answers to any of the above questions. 


VANCOUVER, WASH. 

Land entries were made in the Vancouver 
(Wash.) Land Office in the month of December, 
190L as follows, to-wit: 

Forty-three original homestead entries, covering 
6,700 acres. Thirty-seven of these were for lands 
in Klickitat County. 

Seventeen final homestead entries embracing 2,168 

acres. 

Nine timber final entries and two commuted 
homestead entries, covering 1,703 acres. 

Forty-nine Indian allotments, all of which cover 
lands in the Rock Creek country in Klickitat County. 
One Indian homestead final proof. 

A number of contests have been filed and heard 
during the month. 

No final coal entries have been made during the 
month. 

Two final mineral entries have been made for 
claims in the St. Helen mining district in Skamania 
County. 


LAND. 


MINOT, N. D. 

Report for the quarter ending December 3 r, 1901, 
shows that Register Olsgard and Receiver Hanscom 
have been doing a truly land office business: 

Three thousand three hundred and three original. 
homestead entries. 

Forty-three final homestead entries. 

Two hundred and ninety-seven commutation 
proofs and excesses. 

Thirty-three coal declaratory statements. 

1 hirty-four soldiers’ declaratory statements. 

Two preemption filings. 

Six military bounty land warrant locations. 

Twenty-four desert-land entries. 

Cash receipts during the quarter, $71,803.06. 

Cash receipts during the year ended December 31, 
1901, $161,272.71. 


SURVEYOR GENERAL Meldrum of Oregon 
has just awarded contracts for the survey of the 
following townships: 7 south 6 east; 9 south 8 
west; 2 and 3 north range 30 west; 3 north 49 west; 
10 south 9 west; 39 south 13 west; 32 south 16 west; 
33 south 17 west; 19 west 11 west; 20 south 12 
west; 21 south n west; 33 south 15 west; 34 south 
5 west. 


SAND CUT, S. D., is a name which the settlers 
between Waubay and Summit on the Northwestern 
railroad have been trying for three years to have 
placed on the map of the State. For unknown reasons 
the railroad company refused to put in sidetracks or 
grant elevator facilities and it was necessary lor the 
legislature to pass a law requiring them to do so. 
The settlers are now proceeding under that law and 
Sand Cut bids fair to be not Only a fact on paper and 
ground too, but to be a thriving town in the very 
near future, as the lands surrounding it are well 
adapted for agricultural purposes and are well settled 
with a thrifty lot of farmers. The town was staked 
off last week and the construction of business houses 
and dwellings will be commenced at once. 

' 

THE COMMISSIONERS appointed by the Su¬ 
preme Court of Nebraska to investigate the merits 
of the Torrence land system and to report on the ad¬ 
visability of its adoption by that State has visited To¬ 
ronto, Canada; Boston, Chicago and other points 
where the system is in use. Two of the Commis¬ 
sioners are in favor of its adoption and one is op¬ 
posed to it. 

















FEB 3 


1902 


8 


PUBLIC LAND. 


Land Offices and Officers of the United States. 


E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior Department, Washington, D. C' 
Binger Hermann, Commissioner General Land Office, Washington, D. C. 


Alabama— 
Huntsville......... 

Montgomery. 

Ala ska- 

Rampart.. 

Sitka.. 

St. Michael. 

Arizona— 

Prescott. 

Tucson. 

Arkansas— 

Camden. 

Dardanelle. 

Harrison. 

Little Rock. 

California— 

Eureka.. 

Independence. 

Los Angeles. 

Marysville. 

Redding. 

Sacraemnto. 

San Francisco ... 

Stockton... 

Susanville. 

Visalia. 

Colorado— 

Akron. 

Del Norte. 

Denver. 

Durango. 

Gunnison. 

Glenwood Springs 

Hugo. 

Leadville. 

Larnar. 

Montrose.. 

Pueblo... 

Sterling. 

Florida— 

Gainesville. 

Idaho— 

Blackfoot. 

Boise. 

Coeur d’Alene.... 

Hailey. 

Lewiston. 

Iowa— 

Des Moines. 

Kansas— 

Colby.. 

Dodge City. 

Topeka... 

Wakeeny...... 

Louisiana— 
Natchitoches...... 

New Orleans. 

Michigan— 

Marquette.... 

Minnesota— 

Crookston. 

Duluth. 

Marshall. 

St. Cloud. 

Mississippi— 

Jackson.. 

Missouri— 

Boonville. 

Ironton. 

Springfield. 

Montana— 
Bozeman..... 


REGISTER. 

John A. Steele. 

Robert Barker. 

P. M. Nullen. 

John W. Dudley. 

Franklin Moses. 

Fredrick A. Tritle, Jr.. 
Milton R. Moor*. 

Charles T. Duke. 

Joseph H. Battenfield.. 
John I. Worthington... 
Harry H. Myers. 

Henry A. Olesten. 

Stafford W. Austin... 
Angus J. Crookshank. 
Frank W. Johnson.... 

Frank M. Swasey. 

Thomas Fraser. 

Aaron B. Hunt. 

John D. Maxey. 

Thomas S. Roseberry. 
Geo. W. Stewart. 

Peter Campbell. 

James H. Baxter. 

Charles D. Ford. 

Fredrick C. Perkins... 

Melvin A. Deering. 

John F. Squire. 

Lon E. Foote. 

Wat T. Beall. 

Willia mA. Merrill. 

James A. Layton. 

John R. Gordon. 

David C. Fleming. 

Walter G. Robinson... 

Lorenzo R. Thomas... 

James King. 

David H. Budlong— 

Neal J. Sharp. 

John B. West. 

Thornton S. Howard.. 

Kleber E. Wilcockson. 

Thomas A. Scates. 

George W. Fisher. 

Isaac T. Purcell. 

J. Ernest Breda. 

Walter L. Cohen. 

Thomas Scadden. 

Sylvester Peterson.... 
William E. Culkin.... 

Cyrus P. Shepard. 

Myron D. Taylor. 

James Hill. 

William H. Martin — 

George Steel. 

Martin V. Gideon. 

Albert L. Love. 


RECEIVER. 
Herschel V. Cashin, 
John C. Leftwich. / 

Wm. R. Edwards. 
Albert J. Apperson. 
Albert E. Rose. 

John C. Martin. 

John H. Bauman. 

Edward A. Shicker. 
John G. Chitwood. 
Felix S. Baker. 

John E. Bush. 

James F. Thompson. 
Frank E. Densmore. 
Arthur W. Kinney. 
Henry Malloch. 

Lloyd L. Carter. 
William A. Newcum 
Sargent S. Mortin. 
George A. McKenzie. 
Alfred H. Taylor. 
Othello Scribner. 

George W. Warner. 
Peter F. Barclay. 
Benjamin K Kimberly 
Daniel L. Sheets. 

Miss Martha C. Brown 
James W. Ross. 

John P. Dickinson. 
Fred Butler. 

C. Frost Liggett. 

John E. Pelton. 

John J. Lambert. 
Charles B. Timberlake 

Henry S. Chubb. 

George B. Rogers. 
Edward E. Garrett. 
Charles D. Warner. 
Wm. A. Hodgman. 
Charles H. Garby. 

Stephen J. Loughran. 

Cyrus Anderson. 

Lewis J. Pettijohn. 
Rudolph B. Welch. 
Frank W. King 

Charles J. Greene. 
Charles P. Johnston. 

John Jones. 

August F. George. 

Jay M. Smith. 
Christopher F. Case. 
Alva Eastman. 

George E. Matthews. 

Herman Schmidt. 

C. Sanford Russell. 
George A. Ramsey. 

Andrew J. Edsall. 


Helena.. 

Kalispell.......... 

Lewistown. 

Miles City. 

Missoula. 

Nebraska— 

Alliance. 

Broken Bow. 

Lincoln. 

McCook. 

North Platte. 

O'Neill. 

Sidney. 

Valentine. 

Nevada— 

Carson City. 

New Mexico— 

Clayton. 

Las Cruces. 

Roswell. 

Santa Fe. 

North Dakota— 

Bismarck. 

Devil’s Lake. 

Fargo. 

Grand Forxs.. 

Minot. 

Oklahoma— 

Alva.. 

♦El Reno. 

Enid. 

Guthrie. 

Kingfisher. 

♦Lawton. 

Mangum. 

Oklahoma. 

Perry. 

Woodward. 

Oregon— 

Burns. 

La Grande. 

Lakeview. 

Oregon City. 

Roseburg. 

The Dalles. 

South Dakota— 

Aberdeen. 

Chamberlain. 

Huron. 

Mitchell. 

Pierre. 

Rapid City. 

Watertown. 

Utah- 

Salt Lake City... 

Washington- 
North Yakima..., 

Olympia.. 

Seattle. 

Spokane. 

Vancouver. 

Walla Walla. 

Waterville. 

Wisconsin— 

Ashland. 

Eau Claire_.... 

Wausau. 

Wyoming- 

Buff alo. 

Cheyenne. 

Evanston. 

Douglas.. 

Lapder. 

Sundance... 


George D. Greene., 
Frank H. Nash.... 
Edward Brassey... 

Samuel Gordon. 

Elmer E. Hershey. 


Fred M. Dorrington... 

James Whitehead. 

Joseph W. Johnson.... 
Francis M. Rathbun.. 

George E. French. 

Stephen J. Weekes.... 
Robley D. Harris... 
James C. Pettijohn. 


Oliver H. Gallup. 

Edward W. Fox. 
Emil Solignae.... 
Howard Leland.. 
Manuel R. Otero. 


Alex. C. McGillivray.. 

Ole Serumgard. 

Charles N. Valentine. 

Ernest H. Kent. 

Thomas E. Olsgard... 

Robert A. Cameron... 


James B. Cullison_ 

John Boles. 

Emory D. Brownlee.. 
Henry D. McNight. 

John A. Trotter. 

Seymour S. Price. 

Alfred H. Boles. 

Frank D. Healy. 


George W. Hayes — 
Edward W. Bartlett. 
Eldon M. Brattain... 
Charles B. Moores... 
Joseph T. Bridges..., 
Jay P. Lucas. 


John S. Vetter. 

William V. Lucas. 

Charles A. Blake.,_ 

George B. Foster. 

Albert Wheelon. 

George P. Bennett_ 

Lee Stover. 


Frank D. Hobbs. 


Walter J. Reed. 

Frank G. Deckebach. 
Edward P. Tremper.. 
William H. Ludden.... 
William R. Dunbar... 

John M. Hill. 

Matthew B. Malloy_ 

August Doenitz. 

Alfred Cypreansen.... 
John W. Miller. 


Prince A. Gatchell_ 

William E. Chaplin... 

Charles Kingston. 

Albert D.Chamberlain. 

William T. Adams_ 

Alpha E. Hoyt. 

* Officers that have just been established to 
from the^Kiowa atid Comanche reservations. 


John Horsky. 

William C. Whipps. 
Louis W. Eldridge. 
James M. Rhoades. 
William O. Ranft. 

William R. Akers. 
Frank PI. Young. 
Thomas P. Kennard. 
Joel A. Piper. 

Frank Bacon. 

D. Clem Den ver. 

James L.McIntosh, Jr 
Albert L. Towle. 

David H. Hall. 

Albert W. Thompson. 
Henry D. Bowman. 
David L. Geyer. 
Edward F. Hobart. 

John Satterlund. 
Henry E. Baird. 
DeWitt C. Tufts. 
Christian L. Lindstrom 
Abner L. Hanscom. 

William J. French. 


David W. Eastman. 
Fredrick E. McKinley. 
Jacob V. Admire. 

•Tames I). Maguire. 

John A. Oliphant. 
Anton H. Classen. 

Joel R. Scott. 

John W. Miller. 

Charles Newell. 
Samuel O. Swackhamer 
Harry Bailey. 

William Galloway. 
James H. Booth. 

Otis Patterson. 

Frank A. Brown. 
Charles L. Brockway. 
John Westdahl. 
Thomas C. Burns. 
Henry E. Cutting. 
William S. Warner. 
George W. Case. 

George A. Smith. 

Miles Cannon. 

John O’B. Scobey. 
Columbus T. Tyler. 
Samuel A. Wells. 

Lynn B. Clough. 
Thomas Mosgrove. 
Lucien E. Kellog. 

Duportal G. Sampson 
Alexander Meggett. 
Henry G. McCrossen. 


Ephraim H. Smock. 
Edward A. Slack. 
Frank M. P'oote. 
Merris C. Barrow. 

Mrs. Minnie Williams. 
Samuel A. Young, 
accomodate the business 


Club Offer. S < ?Ef“ , rl 4 V'! 

For a limited time “PUBLIC LAND” will be sent to five 
different addresses when sent in by one person for five dollars. 

Each issue of “PUBLIC LAND” will contain more of value 
to the subscriber interested in public land matters than the full 
price of the,year’s subscription. Some will receive a hundred 
times more. Get your friends to subscribe now. Send all re¬ 
mittances whenever possible by Post Office or Express Money 
Order, made payable to “PUBLIC LAND.” 

Office 124-25 Auditorium Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


Northwestern Business College, 

’-809 Second Avenue, SPOKANE, WASH.- 

The leading Business Training School of the 
Inland Empire. Winter term opens Monday, 
January 6, 1902. Send for catalogue. 


; E. H. THOMPSON, Principal== 






























































































































































































































advertisements. 


FEED’S J. HGAGLAITD, 


Attorney at Law, 


ODESSA,_ WASHINGTON. 

J. W. MARSHALL, 
Attorney at Law. 

Practice In all the Court*. 


W Auditorium Blk., SPOKANE. WASH. 

100,000 Acres Vacant Govern¬ 
ment Land in Lincoln County 
Washington. 

Get a “PUBLIC LAND ” blue print 
map of Lincoln County, Washington. It 
^hows you the exact description of over 

100,000 ACRES OF VA¬ 
CANT GOVERNMENT 

Land in the famous “Big Bend” country. 
It is corrected up to date of purchase, is 
made from the Land Office records, is 
absolutely correct and shows all the va¬ 
cant land in Lincoln County. Sent by 
mail on receipt of #2.50, address 

“PUBLIC LAND” 

124-125 Auditorium Bldg. 
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 


“Public Land” 

has made several of its readers over 

S5QO 

By bringing opportunities to their 
notice which they would 'not have 
learned in any other way. There 
are many more of these- 

$500 


pieces in store for those who read 


ATTEND THE 

Puget Sound Business College 

Bookkeenlnc^ 1, bu8l nesa course, 

and „ P® n ™ ai i8hip, stenography 

Sen< i ten cents for sam¬ 
ple dozen cards and how you can earn 

n ^ B P ar « time. Address 

Tac^m^ N w^fh. PrlnClpa1 ’ 902 Taklma 


0. W. KENNEDY, 
Livery Stables, 


Gentle Driving Horses. Good Drivers to 
show you the land you want to see. 
Everything first class. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 


DOUGLAS HOTEL, 
William Newlove, Prop. 


AMERICAN PLAN. 

H.C0 and $1.60 Per Day. 
Prompt, Neat, Clean Berries. 


WILSON CREEK, 


WASHINGTON. 


WENTWORTH CLOTHING GO. 

Reliable Mens’ and 
Boys’ Outfitters. 

709-11 Riverside Ave. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 


J. W. MeCUNE, 

F arm and City Property For Sale 
or Exchange. 

MONEY TO LOAN. 

7-8 Sherwood Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


I Can Locate You 


On Good Fruit, Timber, Grazing or 
Farm Lands close to Spokane. This 
is vacant Government Land. There 
are a few choice claims left. 

WILL H. BINFORD, 

N. W. Cor. Gardner &Mill. Spokane 


WILSON CREEK LIVERY STABLE 
R. J. Armstrong, Prop. 


GOOD HORSES, GOOD RIGS, GOOD 
DRIVERS, FIRST CLASS 
SERVICE. 


WILSON CREEK, 


WASHINGTON. 


CLAIR HUNT, 

Civil JBngfiraoor 
U. S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor. 

B0SSBURG, - - WASHINGTON. 


INLAND PRINTING COMPANY, 

610-612 Sprague Are. 

Print Anything. Try us with your 
next order. 

It will save you money. 


H. L. SCHERMERH0RN, 
United States Commissioner 


H: S. Swenson, Clyde C. Henion, 

United States Commissioner. Notary Public* 

SWENSON & HENION, 

Timber and Agricultural Lands. Homestead 
and timber locations. Agents townsite of New¬ 
port. 

Publishers of NEWPORT MINER, $1. soper year. 
NEWPORT, WASHINGTON. 


AUGUST MEYER 

DEALER IN 

PIANOS 


AND 


ORGANS 

919 Riverside Ave. 

SPOKANE, WASH. 


ol 


ill 


A fine Blue Print Map of that part of 
Adams County, which is in the 
Spokane Falls, Washington Land 
District, comprising thirty-two town¬ 
ships and showing all the vacnat land 
in each township and corrected up 
to date will be sent by mail on re¬ 
ceipt of price— $ 2.50. Address 


“Public Land” 


Thare’g lot* af good Vacant Agricultural Land 
tributary to 

LIND, . - - WASHINGTON 


“PUBLIC LAND” 

124-125 Auditorium Bldg. 

Spokane. Washington. 

















































Walton & Goodsell, Land Attorneys 


Leave of absence from your Homestead. Applications to 
amend your Homstead and making of all papers pertaining to 
Public Lands. Contests, protests and other bearings before 
any U. S. Land Office. The Commissioner of the General 
Land Office and the Interior Department. Mining Applica¬ 
tions. Military Bounty Land Warrants. Forest Reserve, 
Soldier’s Additional Homestead, and all other Land Scrips 
bought and sold. We can get your tangles straightened with¬ 
out your coming to the office 


Office Rooms 124-25 Auditorium Block, Phone Main 369 




FREE HOMESTEADS 

I know the location of several first-class pieces of 
Government Land that can be secured under the 
Homestead Law, in 

Douglas County. Washington 

upon which I will locate persons desiring homesteads. 
This land is fine agricultural prairie land and is es¬ 
pecially adapted to wheat raising, being situated in 
what is known as the Big Bend Country of Eastern 
Washington, the banner wheat country of the State. 

w. H. BURNS, 

Wilson Creek, Washington 

Enquire at Bank of Wilson Creek. 



400 HOMESTEAD CLAIMS IN ADAMS 


COUNTY, STATE OF WASHINGTON. 

We have a Blue Print Map showing the exact 
location of all the vacant land in that part of Adams 
county, state of Washington, that is within the Spo¬ 
kane Falls district, which is corrected up to date, 
that we will give to every club raiser who sends us 
in ten paid yearly subscribers at one dollar each. The 
regular price of the map is $2.50. 





















R'iCtSlViSD V 

FEB1410W 




ft PVBLISHED 
^ WEEKLY. 


DEVOTED TO THOSE 
INTERESTED !P1—' 
THE PVBL1C LAUDS 
"OF'*' 

THE VMITED STATE 


WZMZMSZfflfflW&iEIIl. 

$ 1.50 PER YEAR 
m ADVANCE. ^ 


Vol. i. No. 25. Spokane, Wash., Feb. 4, 1902. Single Copies, 10 Cents 



! CONTENTS. 

Editorial— 

Hamilton, Skagit Co. 3 


Asbestos.. 3 

Spoon Just a Little. 1 

Committee on Mines and Mining 3 

Plant Some Corn . .. 1 

A New Nation.... 1 

A Rich Discovery. 3 


New Opportunities— 

Current Topics— 

Homesteads in Washington .... 4 

Professor Elwood Mead . 2 


Frank King. 2 

Land Laws and Decisions— 

Leases of Indian Lands. 2 

Military Service of Settlers.... 5 

Harrington, Washington-... 2 

For Relief of Settlers on Public 


Land...... 5 

Minerals and Timber— 

A Part of Act of June 10, 1896. 5 

A Coal Merger. 3 


9000 Acres... 3 

Miscellany— 

A Valuable Deposit. 3 

In Marble Halls. 6 

Eight Feet of Silver Ore.- 3 

. Answers to Subscribers. 7 

The Coeur d’Alene Miners. 3 

Land Offices and Officers of the 

Indian River Alaska. 3 

United States (corrected).... 8 





























































ADVERTISEMENTS 


C. IL HOLDER, 


Attorney at Law. 

Chole* timber lands in large or small 
tracts. Timber land cruised and estimates 

£ ven. Government lands located. Fruit 
nda. Ranch land. Gracing land for sale. 
Climate unsurpassed: no cold, no heat, 
lands, ranch land, grazing land for sale, 
no cyclones. Correspondence solicited. 


FLORENCE, OREGON. 


EOLITH J. BEEVES, 


United States Commissioner, 


WILBUR, WASHINGTON. 

SIDNEY MOOB HEATH, 
United States Commissioner 

Zn and for District ef Washington. 


fCOQUIAM, WASHINGTON. 

A. E. SWANSON, 

United States Commissioner, 


Notary Public, Loan* 
and Collection*—Conveyancer 


WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 


GUMMING BROS. & POWELL, 
Choice Timber and Homestead Loca¬ 
tions on Government Land. 

TIMBER CRUISED AND ESTIMATES GIVEN 

Fruit, grazing and ranch lands and pin# and 
cedar timber for sale. 

301 * Riverside Ave. SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


LAND SCRIP 

--FOR- 

Sarveyed or Unsurveyed 

Government Land, lowest prices, 
and quick delivery. We also 
have some choice saw mill loca¬ 
tions, and timber lands in white 
pine belt of Northern Idaho. 

New Northwestern Lamber Co., 


UNITED STATES COMMISSIONERS 

ALABAMA 

ELLIOTT G. RICKARBY, 

United States Commissioner 

86 St. Michaels St., MOBILE 

COLORADO 

H. A. WILDHACK, 

United States Commissioner 

MEEKER 

CALIFORNIA. 

J. WILL SMITH, 

Attorney and U. S. Commissioner 

SANTA BARBARA 

IDAHO 

JAMES DeHAVEN, 

United States Commissioner 

GRANGEVILLE 

T. D. HASTIE, 

United States Commissioner 

OROFINO 

ILLINOIS. 

simeon.~w. king, 

United States Commissioner 

Room 941, Monadnock Block, CHICAGO 

MONTANA 

john mcdowell, 

United States Commissoner 

GOLD BUTTE 

NEW MEXICO. 

W. S. GEORGE, 

U. S. Court Commissioner, Mining 
Engineer, Mines, Farm Lands, etc. 

COONEY, SOCARRO COUNTY 

WASHINGTON 

A. R. SWANSON, 

United States Commissoner 

WILSON CREEK 

SIDNEY MOOR HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

HOQUIAM 

ROLLIN J. REEVES, 

United States Commissioner 

WILBUR 

J. W. MARSHALL, 

Attorney and United States Commissoner 
Auditorium, SPOKANE 

M. L. SCHERMERHORN, 

United States Commissioner 

LIND 

H. S. SWENSON, 

United States Commissioner 

NEWPORT 

WYOMING. 


•2-13 JiBttti Black. 


ORIN H. WOODS, 
United States Commissioner 


HOMES FOE THE HOMESEEKEBS 

LANDS FOR THE LANDLESS. 

We have a large Hat of the choice** 
farming lands In the Big Bend and 
throughout the Inland Empire. Improved 
farms $15 to $20 per acre. This Is the sec¬ 
tion that produces 30,000,000 bushels of 
wheat per annum. Fine fruit; no failures; 
Ideal climate. Money placed for non-rest- 
dents on first mortgages on first class 
land. Trantum & Schoonover, Odessa, Wb. 


JNO. JAS. GRAVES, 


Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, 
Conveyancer, Beal Estate, 


METERS FALLS, WASHINGTON. 


J. B. ZIEGLER, 

Notary Pnblic, Eeal Estate and Firt 
Insurance Agent. 

IMPROVED FARM LANDS, RAW 
LANDS AND TOWN PROPER¬ 
TIES FOR SALE. 


Prices and Terms will be Furnish** 
Promptly. 


Office on First Avenue. 


ODESSA, 


WASHINGTON. 






Quickly secured. OU» FE£ DUE WHEN PATENT 
OBTAINED. Send model, sketch or photo, with 
description for free report as to patentability. 48-PAGE 
HAND-BOOK TREE. Contains references and full 
information. WRITE FOR COPT OF OUR SPECIAL 
OFFER. It is the most liberal proposition ever made by 
a patent attorney, and EVERT INVENTOR SHOULD 
READ IT before applying for patent. Addreea: 


PATE PIT LAWYERS, 

| LeDroltBidg., WASHINGTO N, D. C. _ 

ISSSOHi 


Free Homesteads. 


There are over 100 good quarter sections with 
in short distance of the Great Northern Railroad 
that are subject to horosstead entry, the same 
kind of land that produced 40 bushels of wheat 
to the acre this year. We have an accurate 
knowledge of these vacant tracts and will locate 
desirable parties on them at very reasonable 
rates. Call on 



H. E. STONE, 

With O. W. Stone Undertaking Co. 


SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


BASIN 


ODESSA, WASHINGTON 























































THE LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS, 

One Copy Received 

FEB. in 1902 

Copyright entry 
CLASS XXc. No. 

COPY 3. 


PUBLIC 


mw/ts/ms/t /j r//f/sop£ os ms msm 



Offices 124-125 Auditorium Bldg., Spokane, Wash. 


ADVERTISING RATES ON APPLICATION. 
Entered at Spokane, Wash., as Second Class Mail Matter. 


Copyrighted 1901 by Walton & Goodsell. 


Vol. 1. Spokane, Wash , Feb. 4,1902. No. 25. 


“SPOON,” JUST A LITTLE. 

The army of homeseekers which is now preparing 
to take up its march to the promised land of the 
northwest will add to the success of its enterprise as 
a whole if some of the ordinary rules followed by fel¬ 
low travellers are observed. The man who piles his 
grip sacks in a seat which he is not large enough to 
fill, will be inclined to file upon his homestead in 
such a shape, as to prevent more than one other man 
of like calibre from getting a full claim out of a sec¬ 
tion of land containing six hundred and forty acres. 
1 1 should be remembered that every odd section of 
land along the line of the Northern Pacific railroad 
from St. Paul to the Pacific Ocean for a distance of 
forty miles on each side of the road belongs to the 
companyr Settlers under the homestead laws will 
therefore be confined to the even numbered sections., 
exclusive of sixteen and thirty-six (in most, cases), 
which are reserved for school purposes. This being- 
true, if the prior settler in the sections elects to leave 
a forty, eighty or one hundred and twenty acres be¬ 
tween his claim and the railroad section, he cou.d 
prevent the solid settlement of the section and shut 
out some worthy man, who would not care to file up¬ 
on less than a quarter section. 

There is no rule governing the disposal of public 
land which will prevent a person from taking ^ his 
claim in any shape he pleases, so long as all the for - 
ies join at least one another. It would be possible, 
therefore, for two settlers in a section to so shape 
their claims as to prevent the third settler from get¬ 


LAND. 


ting a full quarter section. Whereas, by the exercise 
of a little generosity, four men could each obtain 
one hundred and sixty acres in the same section. 
These remarks do not apply, of course, where the 
land is taken in these peculiar shapes for the pur¬ 
pose of excluding rough, rocky or unprofitable land, 
but to those cases where the land is as good in one 
part as another, and where it might be taken as 
well from one quarter as from two. If the 
two first settlers, like the two boys in bed 
on a cold night, would “spoon” just a little, they 
might make room for the other two and all would 
be “snug as a bug in a rug.” 


PLANT SOME CORN. 

Thousands of acres of good producing land will 
be plowed and harrowed this year in the wheat pro¬ 
ducing sections and allowed to rest for the season. 
This may be necessary, and it is generally believed to 
be so, but we have seen large tracts of land that were 
planted to corn, potatoes and other vegetables during 
the usual summer fallowing process, that produced 
very respectable crops that year, and good yields of 
wheat the following year without any appreciable in¬ 
jury to the land. As an experiment, try five acres 
of corn on the summer fallow this year and see if 
it won’t produce corn enough to make a thousand 
pounds of pork and sufficient fodder to keep the 
milch cows in rough feed next winter. 


A NEW NATION. 

The Spokane Indian Reservation, the South Half 
of the Colville Indian Reservation in Eastern Wash¬ 
ington and the Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation in 
Northwestern Idaho affords opportunities enough 
for the development of several statesmen of very re¬ 
spectable proportions. The vast riches in mineral, 
timber and agricultural wealth that are locked up by 
the legal obstructions which prevent their appropri¬ 
ation and development are sufficient in themselves to 
sustain a population of many thousand people, con¬ 
taining as they do an acreage nearly equivalent to 
that of Rhode Island and Connecticut. Why should 
they not be opened—echo answers, why not ? Why 
aren’t they opened—common sense answers, because 
the business men and citizens of the Inland Empire 
don’t know the value of the treasures lying at their 
doors, and have, therefore, failed to manifest that 
degree of interest and activity which is absolutely 
necessary to the success of a movement of this kind. 







































2 


PUBLIC LAND. 


CURRENT TOPICS. 


PROFESSOR ELWOOD MEAD, in an able 
article in the January number of the Forum, said in 
part concerning the grazing land problem: 

“In one way and another there have been great 
waste and loss in the attempt to evade the misfit re¬ 
quirements of the public land laws. They do not 
suit the industries or climatic conditions of the arid 
region. Men have been forced in self-protection to 
resort to measures they dislike. The question which 
Congress should consider is whether.some better 
system cannot be inaugurated. One thing greatly 
needed is a closer union of the irrigable and graz¬ 
ing lands. The area of an irrigated homestead 
should be reduced to provide homes for the largest 
number of people, but this reduction should be off¬ 
set by giving each settler the right to lease or pur¬ 
chase a larger, but limited, area of grazing land. The 
chief industry pursued on the land of the arid region 
is the growing of live stock. Uniting the irrigable 
and grazing lands would enable farmers to grow 
their winter’s food supply on the irrigated land, and 
to support their stock in summer on the grazing 
land. It .would divide the latter into a multitude of 
small holdings; would increase the number of peo¬ 
ple benefited, and would make the growing of live 
stock attractive to many who are now repelled by 
the risks and controversies of the open range. It 
would also encourage the introduction of improved 
breeds of live stock, which cannot now be placed on 
the open range because of the lack of control. Stock 
would be better fed and better cared for in winter* 
and a. humane industry would replace the gamble 
with death by cold and starvation which is now a 
conspicuous figure of the open range industry in 
many sections. It would enlist self-interest in the 
improvement of the native grasses where every in¬ 
fluence now tends to their destruction. The grazing 
lands, for the present, should be leased and not sold. 
The limits .of irrigation have not been fixed, nor are 
the possibilities of these lands sufficiently known for 
the limits of the homestead to be marked out. Care 
should be taken that these leases do not interfere 
with homestead settlement. This can be done by 
having the lands classified by the General Govern¬ 
ment, and the grazing and irrigable areas segre¬ 
gated, or by having every lease subject to entry un¬ 
der the present land laws. 


103,214 IMMIGRANTS from Bremer, Germany, 
came to the United States during the past year. 


487,918 IMMIGRANTS arrived in the United 
States during 1901. 


THE CITY COUNCIL of Duluth, Minn, is 
urging the passage of the bill opening the Chippe¬ 
wa Reservation to" settlement. 


FRANK KING, a young blind man of Kansas 
City, Kan, proposes to establish a colony of blind 
people and has this to say of his project: 

“I realize that the broom industry is only in its 
infancy, and hundreds of blind men may be em¬ 
ployed yearly in this industry. It is my intention 
to establish such a colony if I can only have the 
co-operation of the blind people and their friends. 
I have, in my blind condition, worked in the broom 
corn fields from the time the seed is planted until 
it was cured and seeded, baled and sorted and made 
into a as fine brooms as ever adorned a show win¬ 
dow. I know that other blind people can do and 
are doing the same thing, and I can see no reason 
why such a project cannot be carried out. With 
plenty of fine broom corn land to be bought in Kan¬ 
sas at a low price and as good a market as can be 
found anywhere, there is no reason why it should 
not succeed.” 


LEASES OF INDIAN LANDS.—In compli¬ 
ance with a resolution of the Senate recently adopt¬ 
ed, the Secretary of the Interior today sent to the 
Senate a statement giving the status of leases of In¬ 
dian lands. He said that his department had in con¬ 
templation several leases calculated to promote the 
best interests of the Indians. He enumerated the 
leases in contemplation as follows: A mining lease 
covering 640 acres on the Uintah reservation in 
Utah, and the following grazing leases: For 1,259,- 
280 acres in the western portion of the Standing' 
Rock agency; for 1,200,000 acres in the Cheyenne 
River reservation; for the surplus grazing lands in 
the Kaw, Osage, Ote, and Missouri reservations, and 
for 480,000 acres of the reserved lands in the Kiowa, 
Comanche, and Apache reservations. ' 


HARRINGTON, WASHINGTON, the enter¬ 
prising little city on the Great Northern R. R, in the 
eastern part of Lincoln county, has petitioned the 
Board of County Commissioners for articles of in¬ 
corporation. The town is located on the S. E. yi 
of section 15, and the north half northeast quarter 
of section 22, township 22, north of range 36, E. 
W. M. 










PUBLIC LAND. 


3 


MINERALS AND TIMBER. 


A COAL MERGER has been effected at Minne¬ 
apolis and St. Paul Minn., that will practically con¬ 
trol the coal trade of the Northwest. The anthra¬ 
cite and bituminous branches of the trade have been 
brought together after the respective interests had 
been consolidated. There will be but one selling 
agency in each of these cities, and the smaller dealers 
that have heretofore been independent buyers will 
be forced out of business. 


9000 ACRES of timber land changed hands last 
week in one deal. The land was in Spokane county, 
Washington, and the sale was made by the Northern 
Pacific R. R. Co. to the Consolidated Milling Co. 

A VALUABLE DEPOSIT of coal is reported 
to have been opened up in Stevens County, Wash¬ 
ington, and a short distance from Valley. Five feet 
of high grade coal which can be traced for over a 
mile is the .claim that is being made for it by the own ¬ 
ers. 


EIGHT FEET of silver ore with an assay value 
of nearly $8,000 per ton was struck on the O’Brien 
mine by Dave Llewellyn and W. H. Harmon who 
have a lease on the property. 

MICHIGAN has approximately 13,000 acres of 
timber and farm land in her ten northern counties 
and if it continues to be entered at the same rate at 
which it has been taken for the last year there wont 

be any left at the close of this year. 

# __ 

THE COUER DALENE miners have found 
a market for their ores and are now preparing to 
work a full force. 


INDIAN RIVER, ALASKA reports itself to be 
the richest gold camp in Alaska at the present time. 
The Indian River diggings are said to resemble those 
of South Africa, which yielded so many millions to 
their owners. The camp is 28 miles from Dawson. 

THE WASHINGTON MILL COMPANY of 
Spokane, Washington, has recently purchased eleven 
thousand acres' of timber land in Stevens County 
from the Northern Pacific R. R. Co. 


HAMILTON, Skagit County, Washington, is on 
the tip-toe of expectancy over the proposition to 


develop the rich coal and iron deposits near that 
place. Rumor has it that a strong company, com¬ 
posed of eastern iron and steel manufacturers, are 
soon to begin extensive developments in that vi¬ 
cinity. 


Everett, Washington, has donated a free site for 
a $20,000 plant which will manufacture compo, a 
material used as a substitute for lath and plaster. 
The Coast Compo-Company has been organized 
with a $50,000 capital to conduct this new line of 
business. 

New opportunities 


Among the late selections of land for their oil in¬ 
dications in the Vale (Ore.) district are sections 22 
and 23 of township 16 south, range 44, and sections 
12 and 13 in township 18 south, lange 42 east. This 
land is in Malheur county and the elevations are 
about 4000 feet. 


ASBESTOS has been discovered in the Horn 
Silver mine in Okanogan County, Washington. 


THE INDIANA HARDWOOD dealers are agi¬ 
tating the matter of the purchase by the State of 
1,100 acres in Parke County, to be set aside as a 
State Forest Reserve. The matter will be presented 
to the legislature of that State at the earlienst op¬ 
portunity. 


THE COMMITTEE ON MINES AND MIN¬ 
ING is composed of: Eddy, Minnesota; Connell, 
Pennsylvania; Sheldon, Michigan; Moody, Oregon; 
Brown, Wisconsin; Patterson, Pennsylvania; Scott, 
Kansas; Burke, South Dakota; Tate, Georgia; Hall, 
Pennsylvania; Glenn, Idaho; Edward, Montana; 
Gaines, Tennessee; Smith, Arizona. 


A RICH DISCOVERY was made last week, one 
mile west of Index, Washington, that promises to 
be a “world beater.” The ore is gold bearing tel- 
luride and the discovery was made by Charles Car- 
son, William Ulrich and Fred Schaeffer of Index. 


COEUR D’ALENE, IDAHO, will be equipped 
with two large mills in the near future which will 
cut 300,000 feet of lumber per day. The Howard 
and the Largey Companies which own and operate 
these mills own and control nearly 100,000 acres of 
timber land tributary to Coeur d’Alene Lake. 




























4 


PUBLIC LAND. 


NEW OPPORTUNITIES. 


HOMESTEADS IN WASHINGTON. 

The State of Washing-ton offers 10,000,000 acres 
to the homeseeker from which to select 160 acres of 
agricultural land, and an equal quantity of timber 
land, or 320 acres under the Desert Act, a quarter 
section of coal land; 160 acres in Isolated Tracts; 
as much unoccupied agricultural land as you have 
money to buy scrip for and an unlimited amount of 
mineral lands, containing gold, silver, lead and cop¬ 
per, as well as lands containing the finest marble, 
onyx, besides land that yields opals and rubies. The 
State is divided into seven Government land districts 
with offices located at North Yakima, Olympia, 
Seattle, Spokane, Vancouver, Walla Walla and 
Waterville. These districts include all or a part of 
the following counties and have approximately the 
number of acres vacant set opposite each name. 


NORTH YAKIMA DISTRICT. 

Douglas . ... 

Kittitas. 

Yakima. 

Franklin. 

Lewis . 

OLYMPIA DISTRICT. 

Chehalis. 

King. 

Lewis ... 

Pacific. 

Thurston .. 

Jefferson. 

Kitsap. 

Mason . 

Pierce .. 


.. 500,000 
. . 300,000 
. . 600,000 
6,000 
.. 32,000 

18,000 
. . 100,000 
15,000 
• ■ 35 s °oo 
. . 20,000 

Very little. 
1,000 
10,000 
12,000 


SEATTLE DISTRICT. 

Clallam .. 

Island. 

Kitsap. 

San Juan . 

Snohomish. 

Jefferson. 

King. 

Pierce . .^ . 

Skagit . 

Whatcom. 

SPOKANE DISTRICT. 

Adams . . . .. 

Douglas . 

Ferry. 

Okanogan . 

Stevens . 


. . 100,000 
Very little. 
Very little. 
500 

. . 100,000 
22,000 
. . 300,000 
Very little. 
. . 300,000 
. . 80,000 

. . 117,000 
1,500 
.. 600,000 
.. 100,000 
. 1,500,000 


Lincoln . 100,000 

Spokane. 80,000 

Whitman. 4,000 

VANCOUVER DISTRICT. 

Clarke. 38,000 

Klickitat . 274,000 

Pacific... 85,000 

Skamania. 300,000 

Cowlitz. 100,000 

Lewis. 220,000 

Pierce. 13,000 

Wahkiakum. 10,000 

WALLA WALLA DISTRICT. 

Adams.... . 50,000 

Asotin. 200,000 

Franklin. 250,000 

Klickitat. 200,000 

Whitman. 30,000 

Columbia. 200,000 

Douglas. 40,000 

Garfield. 100,000 

Walla Walla. 60,000 

Yakima. 60,000 

WATERVILLE DISTRICT. 

Chelan.1,000,000 

Kittitas . 500,000 

Douglas. 900,000 

Okanogan.1,200,000 

The character of the land varies from the very 
best to the rough mountainous land that has no value 
except for the minerals, or the timber upon it. Prac¬ 
tically all of the land in the State has a commercial 
value, some of it is well adapted to hay, other to 
fruits and grains and some to grazing and stock 
raising. The white and yellow pine and fir, cedar 
and hemlock have a special value for lumber pur¬ 
poses. The State is well supplied with coal and re¬ 
cently the oil and gas developments have demon¬ 
strated their presence here. The mineral deposits 
are evenly distributed so that the farmer can carry 
his produce to the timberman and miner with short 
hauls, thus affording a home market for the products 
of his farm and orchard. 


THE OIL recently struck in the Newell well 
which is located in the Malheur basin, Oregon, is 
reported to be the highest grade of natural oil 
known. The oil was struck in this well at a depth 
of one hundred and ten feet. Another well about 
two miles from the Newell well has struck oil at four 
hundred and fifty feet and is pumping twenty-five 
barrels per day. 


































































PUBLIC LAND. 


5 


LAND LAWS AND DECISIONS. 

MILITARY SERVICE OF SETTLERS EN¬ 
LISTED AS SOLDIERS, ETC., TO BE 
EQUIVALENT TO RESI¬ 
DENCE, ETC. 

Chap. 458. An Act for the Protection of Home¬ 
stead Settler who Enter the Military or Naval Ser¬ 
vice of the United States in Time of War. 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Repre¬ 
sentatives of the United States of America in Cong¬ 
ress Assembled, That in every case in which a set- 
tier on the public land of the United States under 
the homestead laws enlists or is actually engaged 
in the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps of the United 
States as private soldier, officer, seaman, or marine, 
during the existing war with Spain, or during any 
other war in which the United States may be engag¬ 
ed, his services therm shall, in the administration of 
the homestead laws, be construed to be equivalent to 
all intents and purposes to residence and cultivation 
for the same length of time upon the tract entered 
or settled upon; and hereafter no contest shall be 
initiated on the ground of abandonment, nor allega¬ 
tion of abandonment sustained against any such 
settler, unless it shall be alleged in the preliminary 
affidavit or affidavits of contest, and'proved at the 
hearing in cases hereafter initiated, that the settler’s 
alleged absence from the land was not due to his em- 

o 

ployment in such service: 

Provided, That if such settler shall be discharged 
on account of wounds received or disability incurred 
in the line of duty, then the term of his enlistment 
shall be deducted from the required length of resi¬ 
dence without reference to the time of actual ser¬ 
vice : 

Provided, Further, That no patent shall issue to 
any homestead settler who has not resided upon, im¬ 
proved, and cultivated his homestead for a period op 
at least one year after he shall have commenced his 
improvements. 

Approved, June 16, 1898. (30 Stat., 473 -) 

FOR RELIEF OF SETTLERS ON PUBLIC 
LANDS. 

An Act to Amend Section Two of an Act Approved 

May Fourteenth, Eighteen Hundred and Eighty, 

Being “An Act for the Relief of Settlers on Pub¬ 
lic Lands.” 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Repre¬ 
sentatives of the United States of America., in Con¬ 
gress Assembled, That section two of an act approv¬ 


ed May fourteenth, eighteen hundred and eighty, 
entitled “An Act for the Relief of Settlers on Public 
Lands,” be, and the same is hereby, amended so as 
to read as follows : 

“Sec. 2. In all cases where' any person has con¬ 
tested, paid the land office fees, and procured the 
cancellation of any preemption, homestead, or tim¬ 
ber culture entry, he shall be notified by the regis¬ 
ter of the land office of the district in which such 
land is situated of such cancellation, and shall be 
allowed thirty days from date of such notice to enter 
said lands: 

Provided, That said register shall be entitled to 
a fee of one dollar for the giving of such notice, to be 
paid by the contestant and not to be reported: 

Provided, Further, That should any such person 
who has initiated a contest die before the final ter¬ 
mination of the same, said contest shall not abate 
by reason thereof, but his heirs, who are citizens of 
the United States, may continue the prosecution 
under such rules and regulations as the Secretary 
of the Interior may prescribe, and said heirs shall 
be entitled to the same rights under this act that con ¬ 
testant would have been if his death had not -occur¬ 
red. 

Approved, July 26, 1892. (27 Stat., 270.)” 


A PART OF ACT OF JUNE 10, 1896. (29 
STAT., 343.) 

That hereafter it shall be unlawful for any person 
to destroy, deface, change, or remove to another 
place any section corner, quarter-section corner, or 
meander post, on any government line of survey, or 
to cut down any witness tree or any tree blazed to 
mark the line of a government survey, or to deface, 
change or remove any monument or bench mark of 
any government survey. That any person who 
shall offend against any of the provisions of this 
paragraph shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, 
and upon conviction thereof in any court shall be 
fined not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars, 
or be imprisoned not more than one hundred days. 
All the fines accruing under this paragraph shall be 
paid into the Treasury, and the informer in each 
case of conviction shall be paid the sum of twenty- 
five dollars. 


WASHINGTON is the jumping off place, but 
there is no necessity for using it for that purpose as 
there are still 11,000,000 acres vacant. We are not 
at all crowded you see. 










6 PUBLIC LAND. 


MISCELLANY. 


“IN MARBLE HALLS.” 

CONGRESS now has a bill before it that pro¬ 
vides for the abolishing of all land offices in Alaska 
except the one at Sitka. The business from the other 
offices will be transferred to Sitka in the event of the 
passage of the bill. 

AMONG the numerous items on the Urgent De¬ 
ficiency Appropriation. Bill are— 

PUBLIC LAND SERVICE: 

Salaries and commissions of registers and receiv¬ 
ers : For salaries and commissions of registers of 
district land offices and receivers of public moneys 
at district land offices, at not exceeding $3,000 per 
annum each, on account of the fiscal years as follows: 

For the fiscal year 1902, $100,000. 

For the fiscal year 1901, $12,000. 

Messrs. Lacey, Eddy, Mondell, Miller, Jones of 
Washington, Esch, Moody of Oregon, Needham, 
Martin, Tompkins of New York, Fordney, Shafroth. 
Kleberg, Griffith, Brundidge, Lassiter, Burnett, and 
Flynn. 

THE BILL requiring compulsory attendance of 
witnesses before Registers and Receivers has found 
its way out of the committee and is now on the 
House Calendar. 

THERE ARE SEVERAL bills pending before 
Congress which have for their purpose the amending 
of the present homestead law. 

SENATE BILL NO. 597, Providing for the 
grant of 30,000 acres of unappropriated public land 
to the State of North Dakota to aid in the mainte¬ 
nance of a school of Forestry has been passed. The 
bill provides that the land shall revert to the United 
States in the event of the school being discontinued. 
PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATIONS. 

REGISTERS OF LAND OFFICES. 

John S. Vetter, Aberdeen, S. Dak. (Re appoint¬ 
ment.) 

George E. Foster, Mitchell, S. Dak. (Reappoint¬ 
ment.) 

John J. Boles, at Guthrie, Okla., to take effect 
March 8, 1902, at the expiration of his present term. 

(Reappointment.) 

Manuel R. Otero, at Santa Fe, N. Mex. (Reap¬ 
pointment.) 

Howard Leland, Roswell, N. Mex. (Reappoint¬ 
ment.) 

Nicholas Galles, at Lascruces, N. Mex., vice Emil 
Solignac, resigned. 


Charles Kingston, Evanston, Wyo. (Reappoint¬ 
ment.) 

Albert R. Museller, at Alva, Okla., vice Robert A. 
Cameron, term expired. 

Emory D. Brownlee, Kingston, Okla. (Reap¬ 
pointment.) 

Frank D. Healy, Woodward, Okla. (Reappoint¬ 
ment.) 

William E. Culkin, Duluth, Minn. (Reappoint¬ 
ment.) 

John A. Oliphant, of Perry, Okla., who was ap¬ 
pointed March 19, 1901, during the recess of the 
Senate, to be register of the land office at Mangum, 
Okla., vice Henry D. McKnight, term expired. 

Anton H. Classen, of Oklahoma Territory, at 
present receiver of public moneys at Oklahoma, 
Okla., to be register of the land office at said place, 
vice Seymour S. Price, term expired. 

Walter G. Robinson, at Gainesville, Fla., to take 
effect March 15, 1902, at the expiration of his pres¬ 
ent term. (Reappointment.) 

Stephen J. Weekes, at O’Neill, Nebr. (Reap¬ 
pointment.) 

RECEIVERS OF PUBLIC MONEYS. 

Thomas C. Burns, at Mitchell, S. Dak. (Reap¬ 
pointment.) 

Morris H. Kelly, at Aberdeen, S. Dak., vice Frank 
A. Brown, term expired. 

Jacob V. Admire, at Kingfisher, Okl. (Reap¬ 
pointment.) 

Herschel V. Cashin, at Huntsville, Ala., to take 
effect February 19, 1902, at the expiration of his 
present term. ( Reappointment.) 

William F. Young, at Oklahoma, Okla., vice An¬ 
ton H. Classen, term expired. 

Alva E. Kennard, at Lincoln, Nebr., vice Thomas 
P. Kennard, resigned. 

Henry S. Chubb, at Gainesville, Fla., to take ef¬ 
fect March 15, 1902, at the epiration of his present 
term. (Reappointment.) 

The Senate has confirmed the following presiden¬ 
tial nominations for the United States land office^: 

RECEIVERS OF LAND OFFICE. 

Jacob V. Admire, atSKingfisher, Okla. 

Herschel V. Cashin, al Huntsville, Ala. 

Henry S. Chubb, at Gainesville, Fla. 

Alva E. Kennard, at Lincoln, Nbr. 

Albert E. Rose, of Fargo, N. Dak., to be receiver 
of public moneys at St. Michael, Alaska. 

REGISTERS OF LAND OFFICE. 

Frederick W. Collins, at Jackson, Miss. 

Robert C. Sanborn, at Ninot, N. Dak. 










PUBLIC LAND. 


7 


George P. Bennett, at Rapid City, S. Dak. 
Frank D. Healy, Woodward, Okla. 
Emory D. Brownlee, at Kingfisher, Okla. 
Albert R. Museller, at Alva, Okla. 

John A. Oliphant,. at Mangum, Okla. 
Walter G. Robinson, at Gainesville, Fla. 
Stephen J. Weekes, at O’Neill, .Nebr. 
William E. Culkin, at Duluth, Minn. 
Charles Kingston, at Evanston, Wyo. 


ANSWERS TO SUBSCRIBERS. 


Under this head complete answers will be given 
to subscribers’ questions concerning the public land 
of the United States. Name and address of each 
subscriber must be given with letter asking the 
question. 


I. O. K., Sand Point, Idaho.—I have recently been 
honorably discharged from military service in the 
Philippines. One of my comrades re-enlisted. He 
lias a homestead in Idaho which lie told me I could 
have. He is a single man, and built a cabin on the 
land and lived there a short while before enlisting. 
He gave me no papers. Parties are talking of con¬ 
testing the entry for abandonment. How must I 
proceed to protect the entry ? 

Answer: The act of June 16, 1898, has made it 
impossible for a contest to be brought against that 
entry. See Act, June 16, 1898 30 (Stab, 473) 
LAND LAWS and DECISIONS, page 5. If you 
will write to your friend and get his relinquishment 
you will then be allowed to enter the land by present¬ 
ing his relinquishment with your application for the 
land to the Register of the proper land office, which 
in this case is presumably the one at Coeur d’Alene, 
Idaho. 


J. McR., Butte, Mont.—Is it a crime to remove 
or deface the government survey or corners, and if 
so what is the penalty? 

Answer: The destruction or removal of any mark 
of the public surveys is a misdemeanor, punishable 
by fine or imprisonment and the informer in all such 
cases is allowed the sum of twenty-five dollars on the 
conviction of the guilty party. See Act June 10, 
1896 (29 Stat., 343), under LAND LAWS AND 
DECISIONS. 


L. R. N., Boaz, New Mexico.—In the event of the 
death of a successful contestant does the right to 
exercise his preference right of entry pass to his heirs 
when the death of the contestant took place prior to 
the formal cancellation of the entry being contested ? 

Answer: Yes. The Act of May 14, 1880, was 
amended by the Act of July 26, 1892, (29 Stat., 
270), so as to extend the benefits of that act to the 
heirs. See LAND LAWS, AND DECISIONS 
page 5. 


A. J. A., Newport, Washington. 

Is a married woman who makes homestead en¬ 
try of a tract of land (that was resided upon by her 
former husband), as the widow of the first husband, 
required to reside on the land embraced in her en¬ 
try? 

Ans. She would not be required to reside on the 
land embraced in her entry. In Bellamy vs. Cox, 
(24 L. D., page 182) in deciding this question, it 
was held: “In the case of Prestina B. Howard, 8 L. 
D., 286, it was held that since the passage of the act 
of May 14, 1880, the right given the widow, heirs, 
or devisee of a deceased homesteader by section 2291 
of the Revised Statutes to fulfill the law, make proof 
and receive patent, inures to them as well when the 
homestead right rests on settlement under said act 
as when founded on formal application to enter. 
See also the case of Tobias Beckner, 6 L. D., 134.” 

Mrs Crawford having thus succeeded to the rights 
of her deceased husband, immediately took steps to 
protect those rights. She filed her formal applica¬ 
tion to enter and continued the cultivation and im¬ 
provement of the tract. It was not necessary for her 
to reside on the land. Tauer vs. The Heirs of Wal¬ 
ter A. Mann, 4 L. D., 433. 

The principal question we have to consider, then, 
is what effect her re-marriage had on her rights. 

It was held in the case of Prestina B. Howard, 
above cited, that while a married woman is not au¬ 
thorized to initiate or make a homestead entry in 
her own right, she may, as the heir of a deceased 
homestead claimant, make application, submit proof, 
and receive patent 

The plaintiff here claims this land, not in her own 
right, but by virtue of her succession to the rights 
of her deceased husband. She did not by her re-mar¬ 
riage, forfeit those rights.” 











8 


PUBLIC LAND. 


Land Offices and Officers of the United States. 


E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior Department, Washington, D C - 
Binger Hermann, Commissioner General Land Office, Washington, D. C, 


REGISTER. 

John A. Steele_ 

Robert Barker.... 


P. M. Nullen. 

John W. Lmdley. 
Franklin Moses.. 


Fredrick A. Tritle, Jr. 
Milton R. Moor*. 


Charles T. Duke. 

Joseph H. Battenfield. 
John I. Worthington.. 
Harry H. Myers. 


Henry A. Olesten. 

Stafford W. Austin... 
Angus J. Crookshank. 
Frank W. Johnson.... 

Frank M. Swasey. 

Thomas Fraser. 

Aaron B. Hunt..'.. 

John D. Maxey. 

Thomas S. Roseberry. 
Geo. W. Stewart. 


Peter Campbell. 

James H. Baxter- 

Charles D. Ford. 

Fredrick C. Perkins. 
Melvin A. Deering... 

John F. Squire. 

Lon E. Foote. 

Wat T. Beall. 

Willla mA. Merrill... 
James A. Layton.... 

John R. Gordon. 

David C. Fleming... 


Walter G. Robinson... 

Lorenzo R. Thomas... 

James King. 

David H. Budlong- 

Neal J. Sharp. 

John B. West. 

Thornton S. Howard.. 

Kleber E. Wilcockson. 

Thomas A. Scates. 

George W. Fisher. 

Isaac T. Purcell. 


J. Ernest Breda.. 
Walter L. Cohen. 

Thomas Scadden. 


Sylvester Peterson.. 
William E. Culldn.. 
Cyrus P. Shepard.. 
Myron D. Taylor— 


James Hill. 


William H. Martin — 

Georg* Steel. 

Martin V. Gideon. 


RECEIVER. 
Herschel V. Cashin. 
John C. Leftwich. 


Alabama— 

Huntsville. 

Montgomery. 

Alaska— 

Rampart.... 

Sitka. 

St. Michael. 

Arizona— 

Prescott. 

Tucson. 

Arkansas— 

Camden. 

Dardanelle. 

Harrison. 

Little Rock. 

California— 

Eureka. 

Independence. 

Los Angeles. 

Marysville. 

Redding. 

Sacraemnto. 

San Francisco ... 

Stockton. 

Susanville. 

Visalia. 

Colorado— 

Akron. 

Del Norte. 

Denver. 

Durango. 

Gunnison. 

Glenwood Springs 

Hugo. 

Leadville. 

Lamar. 

Montrose. 

Pueblo. 

Sterling. 

Florida— 

Gainesville. 

Idaho— 

Blackfoot. 

Boise. 

Coeur d’Alene.... 

Hailey. 

Lewiston. 

Iowa— 

Des Moines. 

Kansas— 

Colby. 

Dodge City. 

Topeka. 

Wakeeny. 

Louisiana— 

Natchitoches. 

New Orleans. 

Michigan— 

Marquette. 

Minnesota— 

Crookston. 

Duluth. 

Marshall. 

St. Cloud. 

Mississippi— 

Jackson.. 

Missouri— 

Boonville. 

Ironton. 

Springfield. 

Montana— I 

Bozeman.Albert L. Love.. Andrew J. Edsall. 


Wm. R. Edwards. 
Albert J. Apperson. 
Albert E. Rose. 

John C. Martin. 

John H. Bauman. 

Edward A. Shicker. 
John G. Chitwood. 
Felix S. Baker. 

John E. Bush. 

James F. Thompson. 
Frank E. Densmore. 
Arthur W. Kinney. 
Henry Malloch. 

Lloyd L. Carter. 
William A. Newcum 
Sargent S. Mortin. 
George A. McKenzie. 
Alfred H. Taylor. 
Othello Scribner. 

George W. Warner. 
Peter F. Barclay. 
Benjamin K Kimberly 
Daniel L. Sheets. 

Miss Martha C. Brown 
James W. Ross. 

John P. Dickinson. 
Fred Butler. 

C. Frost Liggett. 

John E. Pelton. 

John J. Lambert. 
Charles B.Timberlake 

Henry S. Chubb. 

George B. Rogers. 
Edward E. Garrett. 
Charles D. Warner. 
Wm. A. Hodgman. 
Charles H. Garby. 

Stephen J. Loughran. 

Cyrus Anderson. 

Lewis J. Pettijohn. 
Rudolph B. Welch. 
Frank W. King 

Charles J. Greene. 
Charles P. Johnston. 

John Jones. 

August F. George. 

Jay M. Smith. 
Christopher F. Case. 
Alva Eastman. 

George E. Matthews. 

Herman Schmidt. 

C. Sanford Russell. 
George A. Ramsey. 


Helena. 

Kalispell. 

Lewistown... 
Miles City... 

Missoula. 

Nebraska— 

Alliance. 

Broken Bow 


George D. Greene.. 
Frank H. Nash.... 
Edward Brassey... 

Samuel Gordon. 

Elmer E. Hershey. 


Fred M. Dorrington... 

James Whitehead. 

Lincoln. ; Joseph W. Johnson_ 

McCook. (Francis M. Rathbun.. 

North Platte. George E. French. 

O’Neill. 'Stephen J. Weekes.... 


Sidney 

Valentine. 

Nevada— 

Carson City. 

New Mexico— 

Clayton. 

Las Cruces. 

Roswell. 

Santa Fe. 

North Dakota— 

Bismarck. 

Devil’s Lake. 

Fargo. 

Grand Forxs. 

Minot. 

Oklahoma— 

Alva.. 

♦El Reno. 

Enid. 

Guthrie. 

Kingfisher. 

♦Lawton. 

Mangum... 

Oklahoma. 

Perry. 

Woodward. 

Oregon— 

Burns. 

La Grande. 

Lakeview. 

Oregon City. 

Roseburg. 

The Dalles. 

South Dakota— 

Aberdeen. 

Chamberlain. 

Huron. 

Mitchell. 

Pierre. 

Rapid City. 

Watertown. 

Utah- 

Salt Lake City... 

Washington- 
North Yakima.... 

Olympia. 

Seattle. 

Spokane. 

Vancouver. 

Walla Walla. 

Waterville. 

Wisconsin— 

Ashland. 

Eau Claire. 

Wausau. 

Wyoming— 

Buffalo. 

Cheyenne. 

Evanston. 

Douglas. 

Lander. 

Sundance. 


Robley D. Harris. 
James C. Pettijohn.. 

Oliver H. Gallup. 


Edward W. Fox. 
Emil Solignac.... 
Howard Leland.. 
Manuel R. Otero. 


Alex. C. McGilllvray.. 

Ole Serumgard. 

Charles N. Valentine. 

Ernest H. Kent. 

Thomas E. Olsgard... 

Robert A. Cameron... 


James B. Cullison_ 

John Boles. 

Emory D. Brownlee.. 
Henry D. McNight. 

John A. Trotter. 

Seymour S. Price. 

Alfred H. Boles.. 

Frank D. Healy. 


George W. Hayes_ 

Edward W. Bartlett. 
Eldon M. Brattain... 
Charles B. Moores... 
Joseph T. Bridges..., 
Jay P. Lucas. 


John S. Vetter. 

William V. Lucas. 

Charles A. Blake. 

George E. Foster. 

Albert Wheelon. 

George P. Bennett_ 

Lee Stover. 


Frank D. Hobbs. 


Walter J. Reed. 

Frank G. Deckebach. 
Edward P. Tremper.. 

William H. Ludden_ 

William R. Dunbar... 

John M. Hill. 

Matthew B. Malloy_ 


August Doenltz.. 

Alfred Cypreansen.... 
John W. Miller. 


Prince A. Gatchell_ 

William E. Chaplin... 

Charles Kingston. 

Albert D. Chamberlain. 

William T. Adams_ 

Alpha E. Hoyt. 

* Officers that have just been established to 
from the^Kiowa and Comanche reservations. 


John Horsky. 

William C. Whipps. 
Louis W. Eldridge. 
James M. Rhoades. 
William O. Ranft. 

William R. Akers. 
Frank H. Young. 
Thomas P. Kennard. 
Joel A. Piper. 

Frank Bacon. 

D. Clem Denver. 

James L.McIntosh, Jr 
Albert L. Towle. 

David H. Hall. 

Albert W. Thompson. 
Henry D. Bowman. 
David L. Geyer. 
Edward F. Hobart. 

John Satterlund. 
Henry E. Baird. 
DeWitt C. Tufts. 
Christian L. Lindstrom 
Abner L. Hanscom. 

William J. French. 


David W. Eastman. 
Fredrick E. McKinley. 
Jacob V. Admire. 

•Tames D. Maguire. 

John A. Oliphant. 
Anton PI. Classen. 

Joel R. Scott. 

John W. Miller. 

Charles Newell. 
Samuel O. Swackhamer 
Harry Bailey. 

William Galloway. 
James H. Booth. 

Otis Patterson. 

Frank A. Brown. 
Charles L. Brockway. 
John Westdahl. 
Thomas C. Burns. 
Henry E. Cutting. 
William S. Warner. 
George W. Case. 

George A. Smith. 

Miles Cannon. 

John O’B. Scobey. 
Columbus T. Tyler. 
Samuel A. Wells. 

Lynn B. Clough. 
Thomas Mosgrove. 
Lucien E. Kellog. 

Duportal G. Sampson 
Alexander Meggett. 

Henry G. McCrossen. 


Ephraim H. Smock. 
Edward A. Slack. 
Frank M. Foote. 
Merris C. Barrow. 

Mrs. Minnie Williams. 
Samuel A. Young, 
accomodate the business 


W AffAw Hew Opportunities for Vow and 
vllvl* your Triends. « « « « « 

For a limited time “PUBLIC LAND” will be sent to five 
different addresses when sent in by one person for five dollars. 

Each issue of “PUBLIC LAND” will contain more of value 
to the subscriber interested in public land matters than the full 
price of the year’s subscription. Some will receive a hundred 
times more. Get your friends to subscribe now. Send all re¬ 
mittances whenever possible by Post Office or Express Money 
Order, made payable to “PUBLIC LAND.” 

Office 124-25 Auditorium Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


Northwestern Business College, 

A ’-809 Second Avenue, SPOKANE, WASH.- 

The leading; Business Training - School of the 
Inland Empire. Winter term opens Monday, 
January 6, 1902. Send for catalogue. 

- E. H. THOMPSON, Principal - - 



























































































































































































































ADVERTISEMENTS. 


FRED’K J. HOAGLAHD, 


Attorney at Law, 


ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 

J. W. MARSHALL, 
Attorney at Law. 

Practice in all ths Court*. 


m Auditorium Blk.. SPOKANE, WASH. 

100,000 Acres Vacant Govern¬ 
ment Land in Lincoln County 
Washington. 

Get a “PUBLIC LAND ” blue print 
map of Lincoln County, Washington. It 
■hows you the exact description of over 

100,000 ACRES OF VA¬ 
CANT GOVERNMENT 

Laud in the famous “Big Bend” country. 
It is corrected up to date of purchase, is 
made from the Land Office records, is 
absolutely correct and shows all the va¬ 
cant land in Lincoln County. Sent by 
mail on receipt of $2.50, address 

“PUBLIC LAND” 

124-125 Auditorium Bldg. 
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 

“Public Land” 

has made several of its readers over 

$500 

By bringing opportunities to their 
notice which they would jnot have 
learned in any other way. There 
are many more of these- 

$500 


pieces in store for those who read 

“Public Land” 


ATTEND THE 

Puget Sound Business College 

for a practical, up-to-date business course. 
Bookkeeping, penmanship, stenography 
and typewriting. Send ten cents for sam¬ 
ple dozen cards and how you can earn 
some money during spare time. Address 
D. M. KNATJF, Principal, 901 Yakima aye., 
Tacoma, Wash. 

0. W. KEHNEDY, 

Livery Stable*, 

Gentle Driving Horses. Good Driver* to 
■how you the land you want to eee. 
Everything first class. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 

DOUGLAS HOTEL, 

William Hewlove, Prop., 

AMERICAN PLAN. 

H.OO and $1.60 Per Day. 

Prompt, Neat, Clean Sendee. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 

WILSON CHEEK LTVEBY STABLE 
R. J. Armstrong, Prop. 

GOOD HORSES, GOOD RIGS, GOOD 
DRIVERS, FIRST CLASS 
SERVICE. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 

CLAIR HUNT, 

Civil JED an ^inccr 
U. S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor. 

B0SSBURG, - - WASHINGTON. 


INLAND PRINTING COMPANY, 

610-612 Sprague Ave. 

Print Anything. Try us with your 
next order. 

It will save you money. 


H. L. SCHERMERH0RN, 
United States Commissioner 

There's lota of good Vacant Agricultural Land 
tributary to 

LIND, . - - WASHINGTON 


WENTWORTH CLOTHING GO. 

Reliable Mens’ and 
Boys’ Outfitters. 

709-11 Riverside Ave. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 


J. W. McCUNE, 

Farm and City Property For Sale 
or Exchange. 

MONEY TO LOAN. 

7-8 Sherwood Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


i Can Locate You 

On Good Fruit, Timber, Grazing or 
Farm Lands close to Spokane. This 
is vacant Government Land. There 
are a few choice claims left. 

WILL H. BiNFORD, 

N. W. Cor. Gardner &Mill. Spokane 


IC S. Swenson, Clyde C. Henion, 

United States Commissioner. Notary Public* 

SWENSON & HENION, 

Timber and Agricultural Bands. Homestead 
and timber locations. Agents townsite of New¬ 
port. 

Publishers of NEWPORT MINER, $ 1.50 per year. 
NEWPORT, WASHINGTON. 


AUGUST MEYER 

DEALER IN 

PIANOS 

AND 

ORGANS 

9(9 Riverside Ave. 

SPOKANE, WASH. 


ip pl Mis Count!, isiplos 

e Blue Print Map of that part of 
ms County, which is in the 
Spokane Falls, Washington Land 
District, comprising thirty-two town¬ 
ships and showing all the vacnat land 
in each township and corrected up 
to date will be sent by mail on re¬ 
ceipt of price—$2.50. Address 

“PUBLIC LAND’’ 

124-125 Auditorium Bldg. 

Spokane. Washington. 









































Walton & Goodsell, Land Attorneys | 


Leave of absence from your Homestead. Applications to 
amend your Homstead and making of all papers pertaining to 
Public Lands. Contests, protests and other bearings before 
any U. S. Land Office. The Commissioner of the General 
Land Office and the Interior Department. Mining Applica¬ 
tions. Military Bounty Land Warrants. Forest Reserve, 
Soldier’s Additional Homestead, and all other Land Scrips 
bought and sold. We can get your tangles straightened with¬ 
out your coming to the office 


tt 

Office Rooms 124-25 Auditorium Block, Phone Main 369 f 

|§ ===== Spokane, Washington ^- ■.... A ^ 


FREE HOMESTEADS 


I know the location of several first-class pieces of 
Government Land that can be secured under the 
Homestead Law, in 

Douglas County, Washington 

upon which I will locate persons desiring homesteads. 
This land is fine agricultural prairie land and is es¬ 
pecially adapted to wheat raising, being situated in 
what is known as the Big Bend Country of Eastern 
Washington, the banner wheat country of the State. 

w. H. BURNS, 

Wilson Creek, Washington 

Enquire at Bank of Wilson Creek. 


400 HOMESTEAD CLAIMS IN ADAMS 
COUNTY, STATE OF WASHINGTON. 

We have a Blue Print Map showing the exact 
location of all the vacant land in that part of Adams 
county, state of Washington, that is within the Spo¬ 
kane Falls district, which is corrected up to date, 
that we will give to every club raiser who sends us 
in ten paid yearly subscribers at one dollar each. The 
regular price of the map is $2.50. 




















//0/7£./7M£/?./5 r//£//0P£ Of 



PVBLI5HED' 

WEEKLY. 


DEVOTED TO THOSE 
INTERESTED I rw 

THE PVBLIC Ei\nes 

THE VniTED STATES 


$1.50 PER YEAR f 
in ADV/AHCE. ' 

WmsmTMfflZ&ZMZiZmZEL 




Vol. 1. No. 26. 

Spokane, Wash., Feb. 11, 1902. 

Single Copies, 10 Cents 





CONTENTS. 


Editorial— 

A Confession of Wrong. i 

A Recent Decision in Walla 
Walla, Wash... 2 


Current Topics— 

Musk Creek Camp. 3 

Tyson, Idaho. 3 

Citizens of Chelan. 3 


New Opportunities— 

Pierre, South Dakota.. 4 

Snohomish County, Wash. 4 

Red Lake Indian Reservation . . 4 
Cass Lake Reservation. 4 


Land Laws and Decisions— 

Entries for Building Stone—Act 

Aug, 4, 1892. 

U. S- Court Commissioners— 

Act May 28, 1896. 

Salt Springs—Act January 12, 

1877.. 


Miscellany— 

Answers to Subscribers. 6 

Give Them a Chance. 7 

Settlement of Colonies. 7 

Burns, Oregon.. . 7 

Land Offices and Officers of the 
United States (corrected).... 8 














































ADVERTISEMENTS 


200 ACRES FOR SALE. 


I have 200 acres of land for sale 
which I will sell at a sacrifice—NW14 
NE^, and NE^4 of section 19, town¬ 
ship 20 N. of Range 37, Adams County, 
Washington—for cash or on time; 140 
acres will produce 40 bushels of wheat 
to the acre; 60 acres first class pasture 
land. 


S. J. GOODSELL, 

218 W. Nora Ave., 
Spokane, Wash. 


BOLLIN J. BEEVES, 


United State* Commissioner, 


WILBUR, 


WASHINGTON. 


A. E. SWANSON, 
United State* Commissioner, 


Notary Public, Loans 
and Collections—Conveyancer 


WILSON CREEK, 


WASHINGTON. 


GUMMING BROS. & POWELL, 
Choice Timber and Homestead Loca¬ 
tions on Government Land. 

TIMBER CRUISED AND ESTIMATES GIVEN 

Fruit, grazing and ranch lands and pin* and 
cedar timber for sale. 


my, Riverside Ave. 


SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


LAND SCRIP 


-FOR- 


Snrteyed or Unsurveyed 

Government Land, lowest prices, 
and quick delivery. We also 
have some choice saw mill loca¬ 
tions, and timber lands in white 
pine belt of Northern Idaho. 


New Northwestern lamber Co., 

I2-S3 Jan**** Black. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 


UNITED STATES COMMISSIONERS 


ALABAMA 

ELLIOTT G. RICKARBY, 

United States Commissioner 

86 St. Michaels St., MOBILE 

COLORADO 

H. A. WILDHACK, 

United States Commissioner 

MEEKER 

CALIFORNIA. 

J. WILL SMITH, 

Attorney and U. S. Commissioner 

SANTA BARBARA 

IDAHO 

JAMES DeHAVEN, 

United States Commissioner 

GRANGEVILLE 

T. D. HASTIE, 

United States Commissioner 

OROFINO 

ILLINOIS. 

SIMEON.^W. KING, 

United States Commissioner 

Room 941, Monadnock Block, CHICAGO 

MONTANA 

JOHN McDOWELL, 

United States Commissoner 

GOLD BUTTE 

NEW MEXICO. 

W. S. GEORGE, 

U. S. Court Commissioner, Mining 
Engineer, Mines, Farm Lands, etc. 

COONEY, SOCARRO COUNTY 

WASHINGTON 

A. R. SWANSON, 

United States Commissoner 

WILSON CREEK 

SIDNEY MOOR HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

HOQUIAM 

ROLLIN J. REEVES, 

United States Commissioner 

WILBUR 

J. W. MARSHALL, 

Attorney and United States Commissoner 

Auditorium, SPOKANE 

M. L. SCHERMERHORN, 

United States Commissioner 

LIND 

H. S. SWENSON, 

United States Commissioner 

NEWPORT 


WYOMING. 

ORIN hTwOODS, 
United States Commissioner 


HOMES FOE THE HOMES: 


Matt:*: 


LANDS FOR THE LANDLESS. 

We have a large list of the chotoeat 
farming lands in the Big • Bend and 
throughout the Inland Empire. Improved 
farms $15 to $20 per acre. This Is the sec¬ 
tion that produces 30 , 000,000 bushels of 
wheat per annum. Fine fruit; no failure#; 
Ideal climate. Money placed for non-resi¬ 
dents on first mortgages on first class 
land. Trantum & Sehoonover, Odeasa,Wn. 


JNO. JAS. GEAVES, 


Justice of the Peace, Hotary Public, 
Conveyancer, Keal Estate, 


MEYERS FALLS, 


WASHINGTON. 


J. B. ZIEGLER, 

Notary Public, Eeal Estate and Fir® 
Insurance Agent. 


IMPROVED FARM LANDS, RAW 
LANDS AND TOWN PROPER¬ 
TIES FOR SALE. 


Prices and Terms will be Furnished 
Promptly. 


ODESSA 


Office on First Avenue. 

WASHINGTON. 


BASIN 



Quickly secured. OUR PEE SUE WHEN PATENT 
OBTAINED. Send model, sketch or photo, with 
description for free report as to patentability. 48-PAGE 
HAND-BOOR FREE. Contains references and full 
information. WRITE FOR COPT OF OUR SPECIAL 
OFFER. Itisthemostliberal propositionevermade by 
a patent attorney, and EVERY INVENTOR SHOULD 
BEAD IS before applying for patent. Address: 


a y a o 08i» si*n'' 

PATENT LAWYERS, 

L* Droit Bldg., WASHINGTON, D. C. 


Free Homesteads. 


There are over 100 good, quarter sections with 
in short distance of the Great Northern Railroad 
that are subject to homestead entry, the same 
kind of land that produced 40 bushels of wheat 
to the acre this year. We have an accurate 
knowledge of these vacant tracts and will locate 
desirable parties on them at very reasonable 
rates. Call on 


H. E. STONE, 

With O. W. Stone Undertaking Co. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON 



















































THE LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS, 

One Copy Received 

FEB. IT 1902 

COPYHWHT SWTRY 

CLASS XXc. No. 

COPY B. 


PUBLIC LAND. 


m//o/t£mx£/? /j r//f//oP£ opr/zemim 




© 

PV0LISHED 
WEEK L'Y. 




PVBLI5HERS. 


DEVOTED TO THOSE 
IMTERE5TED S fW 
THE PVBEIC Lories 
'-'OF — 

THE VHITED STATES 

’ LEO WALTON, EDITOR. 5 


$ 1.50 PER YEAR 
ID ADVANCE. 


SINGLE COPIES 
TEN CENTS. 


Offices 124-125 Auditorium Bldg., Spokane, Wash. 


ADVERTISING AXES ON APPLICATION. 


Entered at Spokane, Wash., as Second Class Mail Matter. 


Copyrighted 1901 by Walton & Goodsell. 


Vol. 1. 


Spokane, WAsn , Feb. 11,1902. 


No. 2 G. 


A CONFESSION OF WRONG. 

The strife to obtain Government land in some 
localities of the west has urged the parties locating, 
to some questionable methods of practice. 1 his is 
especially true of many defendants in contest cases, 
who have not complied with either the letter or 
spirit of the homestead law. 1 he most obnoxious 
of the efforts that are being put forth by some of 
these parties is to arouse public sentiment by ap¬ 
pealing to the prejudices of the community and pass¬ 
ing the threat around that if, a contest is brought 
against an entry in that locality that a vigilantes 
committee will take care of the contestant, ho 
strong has this feeling become in some cases that 
men who are generally believed to he law abiding 
citizens have lent their influence to combinations 
of that kind. It is to be regretted that honest men 
will permit appeals to their prejudices to so far over¬ 
come them as to allow their name^ to be used m 
connection with such unlawful practices. It should 
be remembered that these movements are always 
and without exception, started by some party in in¬ 
terest who has clearly and willfully violated t ie 
homestead law. It is not always true that these 
unlawful demonstrations are fomented by the entry- 
man, for in nearly twenty-five per cent of the cases 
of homestead entry, the party making t le enti y 
simply the tool of some other party who is taking 
these round-about and dishonest methods of acquir¬ 
ing title to Government land. From a rather ex¬ 


tended observation we do not hesitate to state that 
at least seventy-five per cent of the entries that are 
made by women, are made solely for the purpose 
of speculation and very seldom for the purpose of 
cultivation and residence. Go into any locality you 
please and there you will find that out of every ten 
homesteads that have been filed upon by women 
you will find nine of them deserted and unoccupied. 
They may he fenced and cultivated but not made the 
residence or home of the entry woman. Closer ex¬ 
amination will reveal the further fact that the entry 
was really made for traffic in the homestead right 
and that the land is in process of passing into the 
hands of some other party, and that, too, as soon as 
the final receipt can possibly be obtained. It is fre¬ 
quently these second parties who under the guise 
of gallantry and disinterestedness, lure their neigh¬ 
bors into the unenviable position of state and federal 
law breakers. In every case where strong feelings 
are manifested in this way, there is abundant reason 
for the belief that the parties against whom contests 
are brought are guilty of the charges set up in the 
contestant’s affidavit and they know that it will he 
necessary to resort to perjury in order to hold their 
claims. They therefore resort to the dishonest prac¬ 
tices referred to, as they can sneak in under cover of 
darkness and inflict their injuries on the contestant 
with some chance of escape from punishment of the 
law. Such parties not only confess themselves 
guilty of attempting to acquire Government land 
contrary to law, but lay themeslves personally lia¬ 
ble for criminal punishment under the laws of the 
state as well as the United States. The man who 
makes the statement that he would kill the fellow 
who “jumps” his claim, or the one who vows that 
he will help tar and feather a prospective contestant 
is not complying with the homestead law as he 
knows he can, or is in collusion with some other 
party whom he knows is evading the direct require¬ 
ments of the homestead law. Every person who 
intereferes with the process of the second section 
of the Act of May 14, 1880, is attempting to over¬ 
ride the laws for the protection of the Government 
in its disposition of public land, and every person 
who incites his neighbor to acts of violence, or in¬ 
terference with such laws, is also guilty under the 
laws of every state in the Union. Parties who have 
been misled in these matters should remember that 
it is not only the prospective contestant who is be¬ 
ing interfered with, but the laws of the state as well 
as the United States. They should also remember 
that there is but one way in which these controver- 





































2 


PUBLIC LAND. 


sies, that involve the question of compliance with 
the homestead law, can be settled, and that is by 
the officers duly appointed for that purpose. Both 
parties to the contest are given a fair and impartial 
hearing and if the entryman shows that he has in 
fact complied with the law, there is not a shadow* 
of doubt but that he will keep his land, but if he has 
violated the plain requirements of the law, he 
should, and very probably will, lose it. 

--—- 

A RECENT DECISION ON A NEW LAW. 


DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, UNITED STATES 
LAND OFFICE. 

Walla Walla, Wash., Jan. 27, 1902. 
Gilbert L. Brokaw, Contestant, vs. John H. Zornes, Con- 
testee. 

H. E. No. 8894; Involving the SE. [4 NE - 'A anc * the E - Vz 
SE. |4, Sec. 5 and the NW. (4 NW. '4, Sec. 4, Tp. 16, N. 
R. 39, E. W. M. 


DECISION. 

The affidavit upon which this contest is based alleges 
that defendant, prior to making this entry, had made a 
homestead entry in the Spokane office, which was relin¬ 
quished subsequent to June, 1900, for One Thousand 
Dollars ($1,000); that at the time Zornes made the entry 
now in contest, he was disqualified to make said entry or 
any homestead entry at all; that said entry No. 8894 was 
fraudulently made. It fails to show, however, wherein Mr. 
Zornes was disqualified to made entry. It also fails to show 
in what respect said entry was fraudulently made. 

The records of this office show that Mr. Zornes made this 
entry at the time alleged. 

The certificate of the Register of the Spokane office 
shows that Zornes made homestead entry No. 11719, in his 
office, on January 17, 1900, which he relinquished on De¬ 
cember 26, 1900; and that the land was entered as a home¬ 
stead by George S. Malcom on the same day. 

The testimony shows that on December 21, 1900, Zornes 
entered into an agreement with George S. Malcom and E. 
C. Berry, for the consideration of Nine Hundred Dollars 
($900), to be paid by the said Malcom and Berry, to relin¬ 
quish his homestead entry No. 11719, Spokane series, and 
to sublease to them for five years from December 1, 1900, 
three and a half sections of railroad lands. Malcom and 
Berry were to have the improvements and crop then grow¬ 
ing on that homestead, and the fencing on the railroad 
land—about fourteen miles of fencing in all. It was a 
lump sunt, to be paid without any understanding as to 
what was to be paid for the relinquishment and improve¬ 
ments upon the hoestead, or what was to be paid for the 
lease and fencing on the railroad land. The testimony 
shows, however, that the homestead and its improvements 
and crop were worth the whole amount paid, and that the 
lease of the railroad lands and the improvements thereon 
were worth at least equally as much to Malcom and Ber¬ 
ry, when the whole was to be used as a stock ranch. 

Zornes has a family, with four children of school age. 


and there was no school nearer than fourteen miles from 
his homestead. He dug four wells and could not get suffi¬ 
cient water for house-use, because of the presence of alkili, 
although there seems to have been an abundance of this 
water fit for stock. 

Shortly before entering into this contract with Malcom 
and Berry, Zornes moved his family to Winona in order 
that his children might attend school for three months; he 
in the meantime, intending to live on the homestead. At 
this time his wife told him that he could live on the home¬ 
stead if he wished to, but that she did not intend ever to 
return to that place; that she had been dissatisfied for some 
time because of lack of palatable water at their home on 
the ranch. Thus the alternative was presented to Zornes 
to either relinquish his homestead or his wife, and he 
chose the first horn of the dilemma. We have no doubt 
that he chose wisely and well, for the entry now in contest 
is only one and a-half miles from school, and the Palouse 
river runs through the land. In their new home on the 
Palouse, life will probably not be so “strenuous” as it was 
on the cattle ranch, and Mr. Zornes will be enabled to 
keep his family intact and send his children to school. 

As to whether Mr. Zornes made an affidavit showing his 
former entry at the time he made the entry in contest is 
not in evidence in this case. He stated his case to United 
States Commissioner French, at Ritzville, telling him that 
he had a homestead which he wished to relinquish and take 
another, and was advised that he could do so. He then 
went to United States Commissioner Inman at Colfax, 
closed the deal with Carroll, relinquished his former entry, 
and made the entry now in contest. Zornes cannot read 
and does not know what papers he signed, but trusted (as 
he had to do) to Mr. Inman to make out such papers as 
were necessary. 

The second section of the Act of March 2, 1889, provides: 
“That any person who has not heretofore perfected title to 
“a tract of which he has made entry under the homestead 
“law, may make a homestead entry of not exceeding one 
quarter section of public land subject to such entry, such 
“previous fiiling or entry to the contrary notwithstanding.'’ 

The Honorable Secretary, in construing this section, in 
re NANCY A. STINSON (25 L. D., p. 116), says: 

“I believe Congress intended to provide a means where- 
“by every homesteader might acquire title to one hundred 
“and sixty acres of land, notwithstanding a prior partial 
“exercise of his homestead privilege.” 

Section 3 of the Act of June 5, 1900, provides: 

“That any person who, prior to the passage of this act, 
“has made entry under the homestad laws, but from any 
“cause has lost os forfeited the same, shall be entitled to 
the benefits of the homestead laws as though such former 
“entry had not been made.” 

In construing this statute, the Honorable Secretary, on 
August 17, 1901, in re THOMAS M. MORGAN, quoting from 
the case of Samuel T. Honeycutt, said: 

“A homestead entryman, who failed to perfect title un¬ 
der nis entry, and thereafter made a second entry under 
the Act of March 2, 1889, which second entry was also 
“not perfected, but lost or forfeited, was by the Act of 
“June 5, 1900, restored to the status of a qualified home- 
“stead claimant, and became entitled to the benefits of the 
homestead laws as though the second entry had not been 
made. He then says “It makes no difference in principle 








PUBLIC LAND 


“whether there has been only a second or also a third pre- 
^ vious entry ‘lost or forfeited’ for any cause; and, under 
“the decision quoted, the appellant must be held ‘entitled 
“ ‘ to ttie benefits of the homestead laws as though such 
“ ‘former entry had not been made.’ ” 

It would seem that Zorne’s entry is fully authorized un¬ 
der Sec. 2 of the Act of March 2, 1889, under the construc¬ 
tion thereof bove quoted. 

The Act of June 5, 1900, does not repeal the Act of March 
2, 1889, but widens and extends the benefactions under the 
homestead law, and seems to cover and protect this entry 
in every conceivable view of the case. 

Zornes made his homestead entry No. 11719, Spokane 
series, on January 17, 1900. This was before the passage 
of the Act of June 5, 1900. On December 27, 1900, after the 
passage of this law, he “lost or forfeited the same” by re¬ 
linquishment. If there are any other conditions required 
to entitle him to make a second entry, we have failed to 
learn what they are. 

It is true that the regulations of the Department require 
that in such case, the applicant shall give such data as will 
readily identify his former entry. If he has failed to do 
this, the requirement can readily be complied with by 
Zornes, and the failure of an unlettered man to comply 
strictly with Departmental regulations can lay no impu¬ 
tation of fraud at his door, when, as is fully shown by the 
testimony, he implicitly relied on one versed in land mat¬ 
ters, to prepare the necessary papers for him. 

The history of legislation in the matter of disposing of 
the public domain is that for some years the tendency has 
been to restrict the disposal of agricultural lands so as to 
bring them finally under the homestead law, as is shown by 
the repeal of the pre-emption and timber culture laws, and 
the reducing the area by half of a desert land entry. 

On the other hand, each amendment to the homestead 
law is with a view of extending its provisions so as to in¬ 
clude persons who have theretofore been debarred from its 
bounties. So, also, we see in all the recent decisions a ten¬ 
dency to liberally construe the laws anu amendments ex¬ 
tending privileges thereunder. 

We therefore conclude: 

FIRST:—That on December 27, 1900, John H. Zornes 
was fully qualified to make his homestead entry now in 
contest. 

SECOND:—That said entry was not fraudulently made. 

THIRD:—That this contest should be dismissed. 

JOHN M. HILL, Register. 

THOMAS MOSGROVE, Receiver. 
-- 

MINERALS AND TIMBER. 


Wyoming has not only oil enough to light the 
State, but vacant land enough to lighten many bur¬ 
dens i. e., 47,000,000 acres. 

--- 

The Standard mine at Gold Hill, Oregon, is now 
producing $ioo ore; the strike was made last week. 

The ledge is a wide one. 

--- 

The Boulder and Debeque oil districts in Colorado 
are thought to be very promising fields. The oil 


is of high illuminating quality, with a paraffine base. 
The oil is a ready seller at the wells at $2.50 per 
barrel. There are no gushers there yet, but the 
wells are pumping from twenty-five to fifty barrels 
per day. 


Mush Creek Camp, Alaska, which is to the inter¬ 
ior from Porcupine is reported to be very rich. It 
is expected that the early spring will witness an ex¬ 
odus for the Porcupine, Pryamid and Haines Harbor 
diggings to the new find. The new discovery it 
is claimed, will yield twenty-five dollars per day. 
I he new diggings’ is on the Yukon territory, and 
about one hundred and sixty miles northwest of 
Haines Mission and twenty-five miles west of the 
Dalton Post on the trail founded by Jack Dalton, 
the famous Alaska pathfinder. The Canadians call 
the new camp Fraser Creek in honor of the well 
known Canadian. 

-- 

Tyson, Idaho, continues to send in promising re¬ 
ports of its extent as a gold producing camp. A new 
strike was made a few days ago on Renfro Creek, 
about six miles from Tyson and on the opposite 
side of the St. Maries river. The first ledge was 
discovered there a few days ago and is said to be 
three feet wide and free milling ore. The quartz 
is bluish ore, is heavily loaded with iron and shows 
an excellent mortar test in gold. From the differ¬ 
ent favorable reports which are coming in from the 
streams tributary to Tyson, it woud seem that it 
would develop in a placer and lode camp of much 
importance during the coming season. 


The Citizens of Chelan County, Washington, have 
sent to the State’s Representatives at the National 
Capitol, a well signed petition representing that all 
the streams of that County carry gold and in many 
cases in large quantities and that placer mining has 
been carried on in that County for nearly fifty years. 
They also represent that there are many mineral¬ 
bearing quartz ledges that are in process of develop¬ 
ment and that they want the odd numbered sections 
in that County which come within the lieu limits 
of the grant to the Northern Pacific railroad held 
until they can have a reasonable time to determine 
the actual mineral character of the lands before pat¬ 
ent is allowed to be issued to the railroad claimant. 
This would of course save the prospectors and min¬ 
ers the expense of protesting for the present, and 
would prevent the railroad from acquiring title for 
an indefinite period. 























4 


PUBLIC LAND. 


NEW OPPORTUNITIES. 


Pierre, South Dakota, land district is having quite 
a boom. It is estimated that there are several thou¬ 
sand vacant homesteads in Stanley, Pratt, Sterling, 
and Nowlin Counties, west of the Missouri river. 
Many Iowans are settling in the Pierre district. 


Snohomish County, Washington, will have sev¬ 
eral fine homestead claims to offer the homeseeker 
if Congressman Jones succeeds in having the land 
in the Stillaquamish Valley eliminated from the 
Washington Forest Reserve. He is working hard 
at the matter and has some prospect of success. 
Aside from this land, Snohomish County has 100,000 
acres vacant that can be taken at once. 


Red Lake Indian Reservation.—A strong move¬ 
ment is on foot to have 257,000 acres of the Red 
Lake, Minnesota, Indian Reservation thrown open 
to homestead settlement. This is that part of the 
reservation which is in Red Lake County, and is 
held by eighty Chippewa Indians, including women 
and children. The braves who roam over this vast 
area and who are monarchs of all they survey, when 
they are all together—and sober—foot up the start¬ 
ling number of eighteen. 

The land is rolling prairie with plenty of timber 
for fuel and other uses, though not for lumbering. 
It is rich and fertle, is ideal farm land and among 
the best in the state. There is room here for 1,600 
white settlers, though hardly enough for three Chip- 
pewas full of “fire-water.” 

Cass Lake Reservation.—The jobbers of Minne¬ 
apolis have stated that the boycott reported to 
have been declared against them by the Cass County 
merchants has either not materialized or they have 
not felt it. The trouble came by the jobbers organi¬ 
zation’s alleged approval of the movement to set 
the Cass Lake, Minnesota, Indian Reservation aside 
as a national park instead of opening it to homestead 
settlement. The president of the jobber’s organiza¬ 
tion stated that while a meeting had been called for 
the purpose of taking action on the matter, that the 
meeting was held, but owing to the small attend¬ 
ance, no action was taken. The merchants of Cass 
County declared that if the jobbers association pass¬ 
ed resolutions favoring the -creation of a national 
park in opposition to the movement to open the Re¬ 
serve for settlement, that they would buy no goods 
from any member of the organization. 


CURRENT TOPICS. 


Turner, Kansas, is about to be taken by 
the Indians in a legal controversy between the heirs 
of a Shawnee Indian and the residents. 


The English Government is reported to be 
making extensive plans for the colonization of South 
Africa as soon as the war has been brought to a close. 

The Congdon Irrigating Canal in Yakima 
County, Washington, is to be extended to the Wide 
Hollow district, where it will reclaim 1,000 acres 
more land. 


The Senate Committee having in charge 
the National Irrigation bill have ordered a favorable 
report on it. The bill was unanimously carried 
through the Committee. 


Three Hundred German Families in Wisconsin 
are making arrangement through their colonization 
agents to locate in Georgia on the Southern Rail¬ 
road, between Columbus and Atlanta. 


Twenty thousand acres more are to be 
placed under the Sunnyside Irrigating Canal in 
Yakima County, Washington, during the coming 
year. These lands are adjacent to Prosser on the 
Northern Pacific railroad. 


The Underwriters Land Company, of Car¬ 
thage, Missouri, has just been incorporated with a 
capital of $1,000,000. The Company will purchase 
land for colonization purposes. George P. Worth¬ 
ington is president of the big corporation. 

Geraldine is the name selected for the new 
colony town in Archer County, Texas. 

A new branch of the Denver railroad will be ex¬ 
tended to the new town which is located in about the 
center of 60,000 acres recently purchased from L. 
F. Wilson by this new colony. 

The Committee on Public Lands, through whose' 
hands pass all of the bills relating to public land, is 
composed of the following gentlemen: 

Messrs. Lacey, Eddy, Mondell, Miller, Jones of 
Washington, Esch, Moody of Oregon, Needham, 
Martin, Tompkins of New York, Fordney, Shafroth. 
Kleberg, Griffith, Brundidge, Lassiter, Burnett and 
Flynn. 




















PUBLIC LAND 


5 


LAND LAWS AND DECISIONS. 

ENTRIES FOR BUILDING STONE—EXTEN¬ 
SION OF ACT OF JUNE 3, 1878. 

An Act to Authorize the Entry of - Lands Chiefly 
Valuable for Building Stone Under the Placer 
Mining Laws. 

.Be it Enacted by -the Senate and House of Repre¬ 
sentatives of the United States of America, in Cong¬ 
ress Assembled, That any person authorized to enter 
lands under the mining laws of the , United States 
may enter lands that are chiefly valuable for building 
stone under the provisions of the law in relation to 
placer mineral claims : Provided, That lands reserved 
for the benefit of the public schools or . donated to 
any state shall not be subject to entry under this act. 

Sec. 2. That an act entitled “An Act for. the 
sale of of timber lands in the State of California, 
Oregon, Nevada and Washington Territory,’’ ap¬ 
proved June third, eighteen hundred and seventy- 
eight, be, and the same is hereby, amended by. strik¬ 
ing out the words, “States of California, Oregon, 
Nevada and Washington Territory,” where the 
same occur in the second and third lines of said act, 
and insert in lieu thereof the words “public land 
States,” the purpose of this act being to make said 
act of June third, eighteen hundred and seventy- 
eight, applicable to all the public land States. 

Sec. 3. That nothing in this act shall be construed 
to repeal section twenty-four of the act entitled “An 
act to repeal timber-culture laws, and for other pur¬ 
poses,” approved March third, eighteen hundred and 
ninety-one. 

Approved August 4, 1892 (27 Stat'., 348). 

-— ; —— 

CIRCUIT COURT COMMISSIONERS ABOL¬ 
ISHED AND OTHER COMMISSIONERS 
PROVIDED FOR, ETC. 

Chap. 252.—An Act Making Appropriations for the 
Legislative, Executive, and Judicial -Expenses of 
the Government for the Fiscal Year Ending June 
Thirtieth, Eighteen Hundred and Ninety-Seven, 
and for Other Purposes. 

Sec. 19. That the terms of office of all commis¬ 
sioners of the circuit courts heretofore appointed 
shall expire on the thirtieth day of June, eighteen 
hundred and ninety-seven; and such office.shall on 
that day cease to exist,- and said commissioners shall 
then deposit all the records and other official’papers 
appertaining to their offices in the office of the cleik 
of the circuit court by which they were appointed: 
All proceedings pending, returnable, unexecuted, or 


unfinished at said date before any such commissioner 
shall be continued and disposed of according to flaw 
by such commissioner appointed as herein pro¬ 
vided, as may be designated by the district 
court for that purpose. It shall be the duty 
of the district court of each judicial district 
to appoint such number of persons, to be known as 
United States commisssioners, at such places in the 
district as may be designated by the district court, 
which United States commissioners shall have the 
same powers and perform the same duties as are now 
imposed upon commissioners of the circuit courts. 

The appointment of such United States •commis¬ 
sioners shall be entered of record in the district 
courts, and notice thereof at once given' by the clerk 
to the Attorney General. That such United States 
commissioners shall hold their offices, respectively, 
for theMerm of four years, but they shall be at any 
time subject to removal by the district court; and no 
person shall at any time be a clerk or deputy clerk of 
of a United States court and a United States com¬ 
missioner without the approval of the Attorney Gen¬ 
eral : Provided, That all acts and parts of acts ap¬ 
plicable to commissioners of the circuit courts, ex¬ 
cept as to appointment and fees, shall be applicable 
to United States commissioners, appointed under this 
act. War rants of arrest for violations of internal 
revenue laws may be issued by United States com¬ 
missioners upon the sworn complaint of a United 
States district attorney, assistant United States dis¬ 
trict attorney, collector or deputy collector of internal 
revenue, or revenue agent or private citizen, but no 
such warrant of arrest shall be issued upon the sworn 
complaint of a private citizen unless first approved 
in writing by a United States district attorney. That 
United States commissioners and all clerks are here- 
United States commissioners and all clerks of the 
United States courts are hereby authorized to ad¬ 
minister oaths. 

* * * * * -M * * 

Approved.May, 28, 1896 (29 Stat., 184). 

SALT SPRINGS. 

An Act providing for the Sale of Saline Lands. 

Be it Enacted by The Senate and House of Reprc^ 
sentatives of the United,States of America in Cong¬ 
ress Assembled, That whenever it shall be made to 
appear to the register and the' receiver of any . land 
office of the United States that any lands within 
their districts are saline in character, it shall be the 
duty of said register and said receiver, under the 
regulations of the General Land Office, to take tes 














PUBLIC LAND. 


6 


timony in reference to such lands to ascertain their 
true character, and to report the same to the Gen¬ 
eral Land Office; and if, upon such testimony, the 
Commissioner of the General Land Office shall find 
that such lands 'are saline and incapable of being 
purchased under any of the laws of the United 
States relative to the public domain, then, and in 
such case, such lands shall be offered for sale by pub¬ 
lic auction, at the local land office of the district in 
which the same shall be situated, under such regula¬ 
tions as shall be prescribed by the Commissioner of 
the General Land Office, and sold to the highest bid¬ 
der for* cash, at a price not less than one dollar and 
twenty-five cents per acre; and in case said lands fail 
to sell when so offered, then the same shall be subject 
to private sale at such land office, for cash, at a price 
not less than one dollar and twenty-five cents per 
acre, in the same manner as other lands of the Unit¬ 
ed States are sold: 

Provided, That the foregoing enactments shall 
not apply to any State or Territory which has not 
had a grant of salines by act of Congress, nor to any 
State which may have had such a grant, until either 
the grant has been fully satisfied, or the right of se¬ 
lection thereunder has expired by efflux of time. 
But nothing in this act shall authorize the sale or 
ccnveyance of any title other than such as the United 
States has, and the patents issued shall be in the 
form of a release and quit-claim of all title of the 
United States in such lands. 

Provided 

Sec. 2. That all executive proclamations relating 
to the sales of public lands shall be published in on¬ 
ly one newspaper, the Same to be printed and publish¬ 
ed in the State or Territory where the lands are sit¬ 
uated and to be designated by the Secretary of the 
Interior. 

Approved, January 12, 1877. (19 Stat, 221.)” 

MISCELLANY. 


ANSWERS TO SUBSCRIBERS. 


Under this head complete answers will be given 
to subscribers’ questions concerning the public land 
of the United States. Name and address of each 
subscriber must be given with letter asking the 
question. 

L. C. H., Hatton Wash.—I filed on a claim in 
North Dakota in i-88i, lived on it the full five years, 
made final proof in 1886, after making the final proof 


I mortgaged the land, hard times compelled me to 
leave the land and I was unable to pay the mort¬ 
gage, when I returned I found the land had been 
sold at sheriff’s sale to satisfy the mortgage, I have 
never received the patent to this land. 

1. Was such transaction legal and how could any 
clear and legal title to the land be secured, without 
I, the patentee, having had a deed from the Govern¬ 
ment ? 

2. Under these circumstances can I make home¬ 
stead entry again? 

3. When a man offers and lists his claim for sale 
before his final proof, is his claim contestible? 

Ans: 1. It was legal, the patent to the land has 
in all probabilities issued to you, but you having 
been away did not know of it and the right to the 
land being in the mortgagee, it would inure to him. 
The title would be in this case clear and legal. 

2. You, having made final proof after a residence 
of five years, would not be entitled to another home¬ 
stead entry. 

3. It would be a fact that might tend to support 
the charge of speculation. 


M. R. M., Ritzville, Washington.—Have the 
United States Commissioners authority for issuing 
warrants for the arrest of any person under any cir¬ 
cumstances ? 

Answer: Yes. Warrants of arrest for violations 
of internal revenue laws may be issued by them upon 
the sworn statement of the district attorney, the col¬ 
lectors or their deputies or that of a private citizen 
when such action is approved in writing by a United 
States district attorney. See Act of May 28, 1896. 
(29 Stat., 184), under LAND LAWS AND DE¬ 
CISIONS, page 5. 


R. T. L., Lewiston, Idaho.—Myself and associates 
have discovered a valuable ledge or rather deposit 
of fine magnesia building stone on vacant govern¬ 
ment land. There is no timber on the land and it 
is rough and barren. How can we acquire title to 
it? 

Answer: Under the placer mining laws. See 
Act of Aug. 4, 1892 (29 Stat., 348). See LAND 
LAWS AND DECISIONS, page 5. 

R. E. Werkman, immigration agent of the 
Great Northern railroad reports that the spring 
movement of settlers to the Pacific Northwest will 
probably be the heaviest in the history of the road. 














PUBLIC LAND. 


GIVE THEM A CHANCE. 

The citizens of Snohomish county are earnestly 
working to have certain townships in the Stillagua- 
mish valley elimenated from the Washington forest 
reserve. A very large portion of Snohomish coun¬ 
ty is included within the limits of that reserve and 
it will be a matter of common justice to them to 
eliminate the lands desired. The establishment 
of a forest reserve in any locality is a serious hind¬ 
rance to its advancement and when managed in a 
straight forward and business like manner will no 
doubt be of substantial benefit to the coming genera¬ 
tion, but those now bearing the brunt of the battle 
are entitled to consideration, and the lands which 
are agricultural in character should be eliminated 
and be permitted to produce their quota of the ne¬ 
cessaries of life. Congressman Jones of Washing¬ 
ton, is a member of the Public Land Committee, 
and his efforts in behalf of the people of Snohomish 
county is meeting with the approval of the wide 
awake citizens of his state. 


Settlement by Colonies is the most striking 
feature of the land question today. The 
vast amount of sparsely settled land west of the 
Mississippi River has made this an ideal method of 
homebuilding. Large numbers of friends and fam¬ 
ilies have settled in many different sections of the 
west and have literally moved their neighbors right 
along with them. Congregations of different de¬ 
nominations have been and are now building settle¬ 
ments of Dunkards, Quakers, Congregationalists 
and others. Many settlements are composed almost 
wholly of certain nationalities. The Russians and 
Germans perhaps leading in this movement, although 
the Scandinavians have settled all over the west in 
large numbers. 

Register George W. Hayes and Receiver 
Charles Newell of the Burns (Ore.) Land Office 
have notified the settlers in that district that The 
Dalles Military Road Company has applied for pa¬ 
tent to several thousand acres in townships ranging 
from and including thirteen to seventeen south and 
ranges twenty-four to forty-five east. The list, of 
course, includes only the odd numbered sections, and 
all mineral and other claimants whose interests are 
in conflict with the road company should file their 
protests with the local office at once. 


Bids will be opened today in Washington, D. C., 
for leasing 1,300,000 acres of grazing land on the 


7 


Cheyenne River Indian Reservation in South Dako¬ 
ta. The lands to be leased are divided into four sec¬ 
tions. Two have a fixed minimum leasing price of 
41-2 cents per acre and the other two are placed at 
31-2 cents. 


The Grass Money due the Kiowa, Comanche, 
Apache and Wichita Indians has been ordered 
paid. This amounts to $70,000. The first pay¬ 
ment of $250,000 due them on the recent sale of 
their lands has been refused by them, because they 
claim the sale is illegal. They are happy over the 
prospect of their apportionment of their grazing 
monev. 


Artesian water at 100 feet depth has been 
struck in Tammany Hollow, about five miles from 
Lewiston, Idaho 1 . One well on the Dowd ranch has 
been flowing for about eight years and the Dowd 
Brothers have just sunk another to a depth of 100 
feet and obtained a flow of about 85 gallons per 
minute. 


Five hundred and twenty acres, comprising 
Forest Dale, Utah, was incorporated Iasi 
week for the peace and welfare of the inhabitants 
of the district. The organization was affected on 
the New England plan. The officers are: Joseph 
W. Summerhays, president, and Pat Ryan, Royal 
B. Young and John M. Cannon, trustees. Each took 
the oath of office and filed bonds in the office of 
county clerk. 


Syracuse, Neb., is about to lose a colony of 
her most substantial citizens. They have purchased 
improved coffee and rubber land in Nicaragua, Cen¬ 
tral America, and will move to their new possessions 
in the near future. 


Commissioner Hermann has sent in a sup¬ 
plemental request for $200,000 for the protec¬ 
tion and administration of Forest Reserves for the 
fiscal year ending June 30, 1903. The Commis¬ 
sioner makes a strong plea for this addition to the 
regular annual $300,000 estimate. His. recom¬ 
mendation has the approval of Secretary Hitchcock. 

The Co-Operative Christian Federation has 

purchased a large tract of land near Monroe, 
Benton County, Oregon, and will establish a 
colony there at once. These lands are about 
ten miles from Hainsburg, on the Southern Pacific 
R. R. 

















FEB 17 1902 




8 


PUBLIC LAND. 


Land Offices and Officers of the United States. 


E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary of the Interior Department, Washington, D. O 
Binger Hermann, Commissioner Geueral Land Office, Washington, D. C. 


Alabama— 

Huntsville. 

Montgomery. 

Alaska— 

Rampart. 

Sitka. 

St. Michael. 

Arizona— „ 

Prescott. 

Tucson.... 

Arkansas— 

Camden. 

Darflanelle. 

Harrison.. 

Little Rock. 

California— 

Eureka.. 

Independence. 

Los Angeles.. 

Marysville.. 

Redding. 

Sacraemnto. 

San Francisco ... 

Stockton.. 

Susanville. 

Visalia. 

Colorado— 

Akron... 

Del Norte. 

Denver. 

Durango. 

Gunnison.... 

Glenwood Springs 

Hugo—.. 

Deadville. 

Lamar. 

Montrose. 

Pueblo.. 

Sterling. 

Florida— 

Gainesville. 

Idaho— 

Blackfoot. 

Boise... 

Coeur d’Alene.... 

Hailey... 

Lewiston. 

Iowa— 

Des Moines. 

Kansas— 

Colby. 

Dodge City....*... 

Topeka. 

Wakeeny. 

Louisiana— 

Natchitoches. 

New Orleans. 

Michigan— 

Marquette. 

Minnesota— 
Crookston......... 

Duluth. 

Marshall.... 

St. Cloud. 

Mississippi— 

Jackson. 

Missouri— 

Boonville.. 

Ironton. 

Springfield. 

Montana— 
Bozeman. 


REGISTER. 

John A. Steele. 

Robert Barker. 

P. M. Nullen. 

John W. Dudley. 

Franklin Moses. 

Fredrick A. Tritle, Jr.. 
Milton R. Moor®. 

Charles T. Duke. 

, Joseph H. Battenfield.. 
John I. Worthington... 
Harry H. Myers. 

Henry A. Olesten. 

Stafford W. Austin... 
Angus J. Crookshank. 
Frank W. Johnson.... 

Frank M. Swasey. 

Thomas Fraser........ 

Aaron B. Hunt. 

John D. Maxey. 

Thomas S. Roseberry. 
Geo. W. Stewart. 

Peter Campbell. 

James H. Baxter. 

Charles D. Ford. 

Fredrick C. Perkins... 

Melvin A. Deering. 

John F. Squire. 

Lon E. Foote. 

, Wat T. Beall. 

, Willia mA. Merrill. 

James A. Layton. 

John R. Gordon. 

David C. Fleming. 

Walter G. Robinson... 

Lorenzo R. Thomas... 

James King. 

David H. Budlong- 

Neal J. Sharp. 

John B. West.• 

Thornton S. Howard.. 

Kleber E. Wilcockson. 
Thomas A. Scates..... 

George W. Fisher. 

Isaac T. Purcell. 

J. Ernest Breda. 

Walter L. Cohen. 

Thomas Scadden. 

Sylvester Peterson...... 

William E. Culkin- 

Cyrus P. Shepard. 

Myron D. Taylor. 

James Hill... 

William H. Martin.... 

George Steel. .. 

Martin V. Gideon.. 

Albert L. Love. 


RECEIVER. 
Herschel V. Cashin. 
John C. Leftwich. 

Wm. R. Edwards. 
Albert J. Apperson. 
Albert E. Rose. 

John C. Martin. 

John H. Bauman. 

Edward A. Shicker. 
John G. Chitwood. 
Felix S. Baker. 

John E. Bush. 

James F. Thompson. 
Frank E. Densmore. 
Arthur W. Kinney. 
Henry Malloch. 

Lloyd L. Carter. 
William A. Newcum 
Sargent S. Mortin. 
George A. McKenzie. 
Alfred H. Taylor. 
Othello Scribner. 

George W. Warner. 
Peter F. Barclay. 
Benjamin K Kimberly 
Daniel L. Sheets. 

Miss Martha C. Brown 
James W. Ross. 

John P. Dickinson. 
Fred Butler. 

C. Frost Liggett. 

John E. Pelton. 

John J. Lambert. 
Charles B. Timberlake 

Henry S. Chubb. 

George B. Rogers. 
Edward B. Garrett. 
Charles D. Warner. 
Wm. A. Hodgman. 
Charles H. Garby. 

Stephen J. Loughran. 

Cyrus Anderson. 

Lewis J. Pettijohn. 
Rudolph B. Welch. 
Frank W. King 

Charles J. Greene. 
Charles P. Johnston. 

John Jones. 

August F. George. 

Jay M. Smith. 
Christopher F. Case. 
Alva Eastman, 

George E. Matthews. 

Herman Schmidt. 

C. Sanford Russell. 
George A. Ramsey. 

I 

Andrew J. Edsall. 


Helena. j George D. Greene. 

Kalispell. j Frank H. Nash.... 

Lewistown. Edward Brassey... 


Miles City. 

Missoula. 

Nebraska— 

Alliance. 

Broken Bow. 

Lincoln. 

McCook......'. 


Samuel Gordon. 
Elmer E. Hershey. 


Fred M. Dorrington... 

James Whitehead. 

Joseph W. Johnson... 
Francis M. Rathbun.. 


North Platte.'George B. French. 

O’Neill. j Stephen J. Weekes. 


Sidney 

Valentine. 

Nevada— 

Carson City. 

New Mexico— 

Clayton... 

Las Cruces........ 

Roswell. 

Santa Fe. 

North Dakota— 

Bismarck. 

Devil’s Lake...... 

Fargo. 

Grand Fonts. 

Minot. 

Oklahoma— 

Alva. 

♦El Reno__ 

Enid.. 

Guthrie... 

Kingfisher. 

♦Lawton. 

Mangum. 

Oklahoma. 

Perry. 

Woodward. 

Oregon— 

Burns. 

La Grande. 

Lakeview.. 

Oregon City. 

Roseburg.. 

The Dalles. 

South Dakota— 

Aberdeen. 

Chamberlain. 

Huron. 

Mitchell. 

Pierre. 

Rapid City.. 

Watertown. 

Utah- 

Salt Lake City... 

Washington- 
North Yakima.... 

Olympia. 

Seattle. 

Spokane. 

Vancouver.... 

Walla Walla.:.... 

Waterville. 

Wisconsin— 

Ashland... 

Eau Claire.. 

Wausau. 

Wyoming— 

Buffalo. 

Cheyenne. 

Evanston. 

Douglas. 

Lander.... 

Sundance. 


Robley D. Harris... 
James C. Pettijohn.. 

Oliver H. Gallup. 


Edward W. E’ox. 
Emil Solignhc.... 
Howard Leland.. 
Manuel R. Otero. 


Alex. C. McGilllvray.. 

Ole Serumgard. 

Charles N. Valentine. 

Ernest H. Kent. 

Thomas E. Olsgard... 

Robert A. Cameron... 


James B. Cullison_ 

John Boles.. 

Emory D. Brownlee., 
lien 17 D. McNight. 

John A. Trotter. 

Seymour S. Price. 

Alfred H. Boles.. 

Frank D. Healy. 


George W. Hayes... 
Edward W. Bartlett... 
Eldon M. Brattain.. 
Charles B. Moores.. 
Joseph T. Bridges... 
Jay P. Lucas....... 


John S. Vetter. 

William V. Lucas._ 

Charles A. Blake. 

George -E. Foster. 

Albert Wheelon_ 

George P. Bennett.... 
Lee Stover... 


Frank D. Hobbs. 


Walter J. Reed. 

Frank G. Deckebach. 
Edward P. Tremper.. 

William PI. Ludden_ 

William R. Dunbar... 

John M. Hill... 

Matthew B. Malloy_ 


August Doenltz. 

Alfred Cypreansen_ 

John W. Miller. 


John Horsky. 

William C. Whipps. 
Louis W. Eldridge. 
James M. Rhoades. 
William O. Ranft. 

William R. Akers. 
Frank H. Young. 
Thomas P. Kennard. 
Joel A. Piper. 

Frank Bacon. 

D. Clem Denver. 

James L.McIntosh, Jr 
Albert L. Towle. 

David H. Hall. 

Albert W. Thompson. 
Henry D. Bowman. 
David L. Geyer. . 
Edward F. Hobart. 

•John Satterlund. 
Henry E. Baird. 
DeWitt C. Tufts. 
Christian L. Lindstrom 
Abner L. Hanscom. 

William J. French. 


Prince ~ A. Gatcheltr... 
William E. Chaplin... 

Charles Kingston_ 

Albert D. Chamberlain. 
Wilriam T. Adams..;. 

Alpha E, Hoyt.... 

* Officers“that have just been established to 
from the Kiovva and Comanche reservations. 


David W. Eastman. 
Fredrick E. McKinley. 
Jacob V, Admire. 

-Tames I). Maguire. 

John A. Oliphant. 
Anton H. Classen. 

Joel R. Scott. 

John W. Miller. 

Charles Newell. 
Samuel O. Swackhamer 
Harry Bailey. 

William Galloway. 
James H. Booth. 

Otis Patterson. 

Frank A. Brown. 
Charles L. Brockway. 
John Westdahl. 
Thomas C. Burns. 
Henry E. Cutting. 
William S. Warner. 
George W. Case. 

George A. Smith. 

Miles Cannon. 

John O’B. Scobey. 
Columbus T. Tyler. 
Samuel A. Wells. 

Lynn B. Clough. 
Thomas Mosgrove. 
Lucien E. Kellog. 

Dnportal G.Snpipson 
Alexander Meggett. 
Henry G. McCrpssen. 


Ephraim H. Smock. 
Edward A. Slack. 
Frank M. Foote. 
Merris C. Barrow. 

Mrs. Minnie Williams. 
Samuel A. Young, 
accomodate the business. 


CM Offer. r r X.f>" 

For. a limited time “PUBLIC LAND” will be sent to five 
different addresses when sent in by one person for five dollars. 

Eaclv issue of “PUBLIC LAND” will contain more of value 
to the subscriber interested in public land matters than the full 
price of the year’s subscription. Some will receive a hundred 
times more. Get your friends to subscribe now. Send all re¬ 
mittances whenever possible by Post Office or Express Money 
Order, made payable to “PUBLIC LAND.” 

Office 124-25 Auditorium Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


Northwestern Business College, 

:--S 09 Second Avenue, SPOKANE, WASH.-- 


The leading Business Training; School of the 
Inland Empire. Winter term opens Monday, 
January 6, 1902. Send for catalogue. 


E. H. THOMPSON, Principal 






































































































































































































































ADVERTISEMENTS. 


FEED’K J. HOAGLAND, 


Attorney at Law, 


ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 


Practice In all the Court*. 


m Auditorium Blk.. SPOKANE, WASH 


UNITED STATES COMMISSIONERS 


OREGON. 

J. A. HAMAKER, 

U. S. Court Commissioner, Surveying 

Bonanza 


Gentle Driving Horses. Good Driver* to 
show you the land you want to see. 
Everything first class. 

ODESSA, WASHINGTON. 


WENTWORTH CLOTHING GO. 

Reliable Mens’ and 
Boys’ Outfitters. 

i 

709-11 Riverside Ave. 

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 

J, W. ffieCUNE, 

Farm and City Property For Sale 
or Exchange. 

HONEY TO LOAN. 

7-8 Sherwood Blk. SPOKANE, WASH. 


I Can Locate You 

On Good Fruit, Timber, Grazing or 
Farm Lands close to Spokane. This 
is vacant Government Land. There 
are a few choice claims left. 

WILL H. BINFORD, 

N. W. Cor. Gardner & Mill. Spokane 


S. Swenson, Clyde C. Hbnion, 

United States Commissioner. Notary Public’ 

SWENSON & HENION, 

Timber and Agricultural Lancfs. Homestead 
and timber locations. Agents townsite of New¬ 
port. 

Publishers of NEWPORT MINER, $i. 5 o;peryear, 
NEWPORT, WASHINGTON. 


AUGUST MEYER 

DEALER IN 

PIANOS 

AND 

ORGANS 

919 Riverside Ave. 

SPOKANE, WASH. 


ip oi Mi Coiiniy, Min 

A fine Blue Print Map of that part of 
Adams County, which is in the 
Spokane Falls, Washington Land 
District, comprising thirty-two town¬ 
ships and showing all the vacnat land 
in each township and corrected up 
to date will be sent by mail on re¬ 
ceipt of price—$2.50. Address 

“PUBLIC LAND” 

124-125 Auditorium Bldg. 

Spokane, Washington. 


100,000 Acres Vacant Govern¬ 
ment Land in Lincoln County 
Washington. 

Get a “PUBLIC LAND ” blue print 
map of Lincoln County, Washington. It 
zhows you the exact description of over 

100,000 ACRES OF VA¬ 
CANT GOVERNMENT 

Land in the famous “Big Bend” country. 
It is corrected up to date of purchase, is 
made from the Land Office records, is 
absolutely correct and shows all the va¬ 
cant land in Lincoln County. Sent by 
mail on receipt of $2.50, address 

“PUBLIC LAND” 

124-125 Auditorium Bldg. 
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON. 


C. H. HOLDEN, 
Attorney at Law. 


Choice timber lands in large or small 
tracts. Timber land cruised and estimates 
given. Government lands located. Fruit 
Sands. Ranch land. Grazing land for sale. 
Climate unsurpassed; no cold, no heat, 
lands, ranch land, grazing land for sale, 
no cyclones. Correspondence solicited. 

FLORENCE, OREGON. 


SIDNEY MOOS HEATH, 

United States Commissioner 

Xn and for District ef Washington. 
HOQUIAX, WASHINGTON. 


DOUGLAS HOTEL, 

William Newlove, Prop., 

AMERICAN PLAN. 

)1.00 and 91.60 Per Day. 

Prompt, Neat, Clean Service. 

WILSON CREEK, WASHINGTON. 

WILSON CHEEK LIVERY STABLE 
R. J. Armstrong, Prop. 

GOOD HORSES, GOOD RIGS, GOOD 
DRIVERS, FIRST CLASS 
SERVICE. 

WILSON CREEK. WASHINGTON. 

CLAIR HUNT, 

Civil J3>iTX£gi neor 
U. S. Deputy Mineral Surveyor. 

BOSSBURG, - - WASHINGTON. 

INLAND PRINTING COMPANY, 

610-612 Sprague Aye. 

Print Anything. Try us with your 
next order. 

It will save you money. 

M. L. SCHERMERH0RN, 
United States Commissioner 


There’s lots of good Vacant Agricultural Land 
tributary to 

LIND, . - - WASHINGTON 


J. W. MARSHALL, 
Attorney at Law. 


0. W. KENNEDY, 
Livery Stables, 







































Walton & Goodsell, Land Attorneys j 


Leave of absence from your Homestead. Applications to 
amend your Homstead and making of all papers pertaining to 
Public Lands. Contests, protests and other bearings before 
any U. S. Land Office. The Commissioner of the General 
Land Office and the Interior Department. Mining Applica¬ 
tions. Military Bounty Land Warrants. Forest Reserve, 
Soldier’s Additional Homestead, and all other Land Scrips 
bought and sold. We can get your tangles straightened with¬ 
out your coming to the office 


Office Rooms 124-25 Auditorium Block, Phone Main 369 


an 


I 

8—8—8—3—8—8—8—3—8—8—8—8—8—3—8—8—88—3—tt—8—3—3—8—3—8—3—3—3—8—8—8—8—8—8-6 


FREE HOMESTEADS 


€* 

I know the location of several first-class pieces of 
Government Land that can be secured under the 
Homestead Law, in 

Douglas County, Washington 

upon which I will locate persons desiring homesteads. 
This land is fine agricultural prairie land and is es¬ 
pecially adapted to wheat raising, being situated in 
what is known as the Big Bend Country of Eastern 
Washington, the banner wheat country of the State. 

W. H. BURNS, 

Wilson Creek, Washington 

Enquire at Bank of Wilson Creek. 



400 HOMESTEAD CLAIMS IN ADAMS 
COUNTY, STATE OF WASHINGTON. 

We have a Blue Print Map showing the exact 
location of all the vacant land in that part of Adams 
county, state of Washington, that is within the Spo¬ 
kane Falls district, which is corrected up to date, 
that we will give to every club raiser who sends us 
in ten paid yearly subscribers at one dollar each. The 
regular price of the map is $2.50. 




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